Adam Turer, Greg Thomas and Frank Rossi join Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan for this podcast, and Adam brings in an interview with Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player T.J. Josey, who ended up at the same wings establishment as our crew after the game. Plus, who should be No. 2, or No. 3? And what did each of us take away from the 2018 season?

The guys talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/15/around-the-nation-podcast-233-wrapping-up-2018/feed/01:06:24The 44th D3football.com Around the Nation podcast of the calendar year is the one in which we get to talk about Stagg Bowl XLVI, the 24-16 win by Mary Hardin-Baylor, and discuss the postseason awards. In this pod we discuss, debate, and then announc[...]The 44th D3football.com Around the Nation podcast of the calendar year is the one in which we get to talk about Stagg Bowl XLVI, the 24-16 win by Mary Hardin-Baylor, and discuss the postseason awards. In this pod we discuss, debate, and then announce the D3football.com Offensive Player of the Year, the D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year and the D3football.com Coach of the Year. Adam Turer, Greg Thomas and Frank Rossi join Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan for this podcast, and Adam brings in an interview with Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player T.J. Josey, who ended up at the same wings establishment as our crew after the game. Plus, who should be No. 2, or No. 3? And what did each of us take away from the 2018 season? The guys talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Predictions for Stagg Bowl XLVIhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/14/quick-hits-predictions-for-stagg-bowl-xlvi/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/14/quick-hits-predictions-for-stagg-bowl-xlvi/#respondFri, 14 Dec 2018 07:18:51 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4357We have one game left, and we are beyond quick predictions, and beyond six predictions at that. So for the big game, we bring out a couple more experts, and we give everyone a couple hundred words to work with. We’ve been making these predictions ever since 1999, when our panel correctly picked what everyone in Division III thought was an upset — Pacific Lutheran over Rowan. Last year, our panel correctly picked Mount Union, in a 5-3 decision over Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Nobody consulted with one another. Feel free to add your pick and reasoning in the comments section below.

Sometimes the entirety of a football season, especially a 15-game one, is a battle of attrition. Last year, surely, UMHB would have liked to have had T.J. Josey healthy for more than a couple of snaps in the title game. This year, that person could be De’Nerian Thomas for UMHB or Jared Ruth or Cole Moxie for Mount Union. Or D’Angelo Fulford for the Purple Raiders, for that matter. Regardless of who is able to go, though, the keys will likely remain the same: control the running ability of whomever is taking snaps. Keep the receivers in front of you so the quarterback can’t burn you with the deep ball. That sort of thing. When I moved my No. 1 vote from Mount Union to UMHB earlier in the season, it was with the thought that the Cru have enough quarterback options to provide the depth needed for the long haul. Now, however, the offense has to be in doubt a bit. And perhaps that’s true for both sides. Regardless, I’m looking forward to a game that has a bit more scoring than last year, despite all the time I just spent doubting everyone’s offense.Mary Hardin-Baylor 17, Mount Union 14

I’ve had UMHB No. 1 since midway through the season, and in beating three top-10 teams (Hardin-Simmons, St. John’s and UW-Whitewater) to get to the first Stagg Bowl held in their home state, the Crusaders earn the right to go in favored, even against the defending champions. Mount Union’s best trait this year seems to be something that’s hard to quantify — the ability to win a game however it needs to be won, with opportunistic defense, high-powered offense, grit — so by no means is this a “it’s definitely going to happen this way” pick. Both UMHB and UMU are in the Stagg Bowl because they’re adaptable, and because they mirror each other — the direct-snap run package, the turnover-causing defenses, the swarming tacklers. So this game might not be much prettier than last year’s, unless one side figures out how to turn turnovers or special teams plays into points. If it boils down to a conservative defensive slugfest where both teams need to play mistake-free, UMHB has the edge.Mary Hardin-Baylor 21, Mount Union 14

Both teams enter Friday’s rematch with questions behind center. Is Jase Hammack healthy enough to start and finish the game? Is DeNerian Thomas healthy enough to provide a run/pass threat and change of pace? Will former quarterback turned wide receiver T.J. Josey be pressed into quarterback duties, a la Cecil Shorts in 2010? On the other side, is D’Angelo Fulford physically and mentally recovered from his rough outing in the semifinals? Or will the Purple Raiders be forced to rely on running back Josh Petruccelli taking direct snaps to grind out a win? I don’t think Mount Union repeats its performance from last week. Instead, I think the Purple Raiders repeat as champions for the first time since 2005-2006. Like they did in Stagg Bowl XLV, the Cru will struggle on offense due to inexperience at the quarterback position. The Purple Raiders will load up to stop Markeith Miller and will come up with enough big plays, either turnovers or on special teams, to squeeze out some points against the nation’s top scoring defense. This could be a heartwarming story for the local program, but the Purple Raiders will refuse to cooperate. Mount Union has the rare chance to do something the program has never done before, winning a Stagg Bowl outside of Salem. Mount Union’s playmakers on defense get the job done, leaving the home crowd in Shenandoah disappointed.Mount Union 20, Mary Hardin-Baylor 12

Despite the fact that this Stagg Bowl features the teams with the first- and second-best scoring offenses in the nation, I don’t forsee this as being an obscenely high-scoring game. The fact of the matter is that these defenses are among the elite, too. UMHB’s journey (involving the dismantling of two Top 5 teams) has prepared them better for the destination than did Mount’s. The past two weeks have proven UMHB’s ability to expertly defend against both the pass and the run, and the team can move the ball to get the points it needs. Mount, on the other hand, has a lot of great aspects but has shown vulnerability at times, and I think they haven’t really faced anyone yet to take advantage of those soft spots the way UMHB can (and will). It’ll be a good game, but the home-state squad gets the W.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, Mount Union 14

I see this game as a huge first-half chess match, with two teams that will resume a tight, conservative battle from last year’s game and two defenses that will thrive in that. However, the changes that UMHB made between last year and this year focused on their offense and the issues they experienced in the pocket. That meant finding a pocket passer and also a quarterback with pure speed that could ensure the ball moved out of the pocket quickly. Eventually, that will pay off for UMHB. They’ll take a lead in the second half, and that will inspire D’Angelo Fulford to fight back — an offensive showdown will finally develop between the teams. On paper, the teams line up very evenly. That means the home-state advantage matters here — with the crowd likely being 6-to-1 in favor of the CRU. That’s why I give them the edge in a higher-scoring game than many people expect.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, Mount Union 21

Greg Thomas, D3football.com contributor and bracketology consultant

Here we are again. Despite usual and expected grumblings about bracket balance, the best two teams in the division have reached the final. Once again both teams have suffocating defenses. While I don’t expect the same absence of offense that we saw last year, points will still come at a premium. Both teams also enter with some questions at quarterback. UMHB has been nursing Jase Hammack’s shoulder through these playoffs and his primary backup — DeNerian Thomas — is questionable for Friday. On the other side D’Angelo Fulford has battled an ankle issue and inconsistency through these playoffs; enough so that the Purple Raiders turned almost exclusively to a running back direct snap package in the fourth quarter of their semifinal. The run defenses being deployed in this game will demand that these quarterbacks conjure a moment of two of brilliance, without backbreaking turnovers, for their teams to be successful. I expect this game to tilt on a big special teams play or a a turnover. Through these playoffs, the Crusaders have taken better care of the ball and, if there is one area of clear separation between these teams, it is the Cru’s kick return units. I’m going with the Crusaders to win their second title in a tight, thrilling ballgame. Mary Hardin-Baylor 20, Mount Union 16.

Kevin Niehus, Division III football analyst and former Thomas More quarterback

Arguably the top two defenses in the division, each facing an offense that put up video game numbers in their respective league. Throw that out: Both leagues were down this year. This game will be another defensive battle, like last year in Salem. We have seen both teams prepare their version of the Wildcat for this game, with both having won titles by running some variation of it in past years. I like Mount Union in this game, even though it’s a road game. They are disciplined enough to keep UMHB WR’s AND kick returners out of the end zone. We have all seen the highlights, Simms runs 90 yards faster than most humans run the 40. I like that Mount Union has a QB in Fulford who has been in an intense spotlight for the past 56 weeks. He can erase a lot of the questioning on Friday night, and I guarantee he knows that. I just feel like he makes one more play – and that’s all it will take to separate these two teams. One caveat: Mount Union must play clean: No personal fouls and no procedure penalties. If I’m Vince Kehres I’m confident in my players to play fast, make physical mistakes not mental ones. Mount Union 13, Mary Hardin-Baylor 10.

Eric Drennan, Temple Daily Telegram Sports Editor

Both teams have high-scoring offenses, stingy defenses and quality coaching staffs, so this game is a toss-up that could be decided in three areas. First: If Mount Union can shut down UMHB’s rushing attack like it did last year and free up a Purple Raiders defense with 67 sacks to pin its ears back and go after the passer, then I like Mount Union’s chances. If the Crusaders can have some balance on offense, they might have the upper hand because of their playmakers on the outside. Second: If Mount Union quarterback D’Angelo Fulford is able to consistently make plays with his legs when UMHB drops into pass coverage, the Purple Raiders have the edge. The Crusaders have to keep Fulford in the pocket. A QB who is dangerous on the run will give any defense fits. Mount Union has one. UMHB doesn’t. Third: I think UMHB has the advantage when it comes to special teams, specifically the return game. Aaron Sims and K.J. Miller can turn a game around because they’re threats to score anytime they get the ball in space. All of that being said, of course I’m picking UMHB. The people in this football-crazy state would find a tall tree and a short rope if I didn’t. I’ll say UMHB 24, Mount Union 21 in what will seem like an absolute scorefest after the last two Stagg Bowls.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, Mount Union 21

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/14/quick-hits-predictions-for-stagg-bowl-xlvi/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast 232: We’re doin’ it live in Texashttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/13/around-the-nation-podcast-232-were-doin-it-live-in-texas/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/13/around-the-nation-podcast-232-were-doin-it-live-in-texas/#respondFri, 14 Dec 2018 01:09:23 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4359The crew is all in place for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, and Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan are joined by Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas. (Adam Turer was in a big old jet airliner.)

We’ll get you up to date on the latest going on with each team: Who’s healthy? Who’s out? What will they do to replace them? Plus, we’ll tell you why neither team has been able to practice in this beautiful Woodforest Bank Stadium. And we’ll chat with Mary Hardin-Baylor receiver T.J. Josey and Mount Union linebacker Danny Robinson, plus break down each side of the ball for both teams.

The guys talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/13/around-the-nation-podcast-232-were-doin-it-live-in-texas/feed/00:51:52The crew is all in place for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, and Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan are joined by Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas. (Adam Turer was in a big old jet airliner.) We'll get you up to date on the latest going on with each team: Who's [...]The crew is all in place for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, and Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan are joined by Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas. (Adam Turer was in a big old jet airliner.) We'll get you up to date on the latest going on with each team: Who's healthy? Who's out? What will they do to replace them? Plus, we'll tell you why neither team has been able to practice in this beautiful Woodforest Bank Stadium. And we'll chat with Mary Hardin-Baylor receiver T.J. Josey and Mount Union linebacker Danny Robinson, plus break down each side of the ball for both teams. The guys talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 231: Breaking down the semifinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/10/around-the-nation-podcast-231-breaking-down-the-semifinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/10/around-the-nation-podcast-231-breaking-down-the-semifinals/#respondMon, 10 Dec 2018 07:56:51 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4353Same faces in a new place, as Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor will head down to Shenandoah, Texas, this week. Keith was in Alliance and Pat was in Belton to cover the semifinals and give their take on their game, plus everything surrounding the two semifinal games.

Plus, we brought in a guest to help us talk more X’s and O’s and break down each side of the ball for Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor. And Pat and Keith also take a look at the seasons Johns Hopkins and UW-Whitewater had, and see where they now fit in the national picture after semifinal defeats.

Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/10/around-the-nation-podcast-231-breaking-down-the-semifinals/feed/01:02:09Same faces in a new place, as Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor will head down to Shenandoah, Texas, this week. Keith was in Alliance and Pat was in Belton to cover the semifinals and give their take on their game, plus everything surrounding the t[...]Same faces in a new place, as Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor will head down to Shenandoah, Texas, this week. Keith was in Alliance and Pat was in Belton to cover the semifinals and give their take on their game, plus everything surrounding the two semifinal games. Plus, we brought in a guest to help us talk more X's and O's and break down each side of the ball for Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor. And Pat and Keith also take a look at the seasons Johns Hopkins and UW-Whitewater had, and see where they now fit in the national picture after semifinal defeats. Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Predicting the semifinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/07/quick-hits-predicting-the-semifinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/07/quick-hits-predicting-the-semifinals/#commentsFri, 07 Dec 2018 15:16:38 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4342With three Purple Powers and the newcomers in blue, we have a slightly different look to our national semifinals. Or, if you prefer, playing the role of the Wesley Wolverines in this year’s Week 15, we have the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays. Hopefully we get two great games that will be great examples of Division III football to the audience on ESPN3, but our panelists will let you know below how likely that is.

The Quick Hits
playoff crew:

Keith: The Blue Jays will win over a lot of hearts by playing fast, fearlessly and having fun with an opportunity that scares other teams out of their cleats. These Purple Raiders, especially if hobbled, aren’t unbeatable, but they are opportunistic defensively and deep enough offensively to play whatever kind of game is necessary to win. Mount Union has just 13 turnovers through 13 games, including only two INTs thrown by QB D’Angelo Fulford, and to win, Johns Hopkins is going to need to generate either turnovers or a ton of offense against an elite defense. Mount Union 35, Johns Hopkins 24.

Ryan: Mount doesn’t get challenged on the field very often, but I think JHU is peaking at just the right time to make this game a fun one to watch. Hopkins leads the nation in offense and has the right kind of multi-dimensional attack, led by quarterback David Tammaro, that will keep Mount alert for the full 60 minutes. As I said in my feature this week: “To defend against Hopkins, it’s a pick-your-poison scenario: Stack the box, and the Jays will pick you apart downfield; play on your heels, and they’ll get you in the gut.” So far in the playoffs, Hopkins has matched up well against its opponents, but nobody truly matches up easily against Mount Union, so JHU being able to adjust their strategy on the fly will be the main ingredient to keeping Mount from running away with the game, as they’re apt to do any week of the year (they are No. 1 for a reason). Mount Union 31, Johns Hopkins 21.

Pat: I know that on the podcast we call the UWW/UMHB matchup the better matchup, but this is just as intriguing to me. We think we’ve never seen Johns Hopkins playing this well, and the Blue Jays have been in the ballpark against Division III football’s elite in the past. Mount Union hasn’t fired on every cylinder against big opponents. If Muhlenberg was within 14 points late in the game, could Johns Hopkins be the same? David Tammaro at quarterback gives JHU a quality weapon behind center and if D’Angelo Fulford isn’t at 100 percent, or doesn’t have both Justin Hill and Jared Ruth, Tammaro may be the best quarterback on the field. (And maybe this scenario sees Josh Petruccelli take a lot of snaps). For entertainment purposes, I hope it’s entertaining enough in the fourth quarter. Mount Union 28, Johns Hopkins 24.

Adam: Johns Hopkins boasts the best, most complete offense that Mount Union will have faced this season. David Tammaro will not be intimidated by the moment. If Tyler Messinger is healthy, Tammaro will have a deep backfield behind him to complement the depth of the wide receiver corps. The Blue Jays will try to spread the field and open up the middle for Messinger and Stuart Walters. Because the JHU offense goes sideline to sideline, the Blue Jays will hope that Mount Union’s defense might wear down. The starters have rarely had to compete for four quarters in a game this season. Maybe that will allow the Blue Jays and their nation-best offense (564.4 yards per game) to put pressure on the hosts in the fourth quarter. But Hopkins hasn’t faced a defense like the Purple Raiders. Louis Berry and Gabe Brown are shutdown corners, eager to make a big play and get the ball back in the Mount Union offense’s hands. It’s not easy to spread out or wear down a defense that has such speed and quickness up the middle with Danny Robinson, Trey Williams, Nick Brish, and Austin White. Even if the Blue Jays are able to move the ball effectively, they won’t be able to break the big plays that it would take to upset Mount Union. I think it will be close and the Blue Jays will put up some points, but it won’t be enough to escape Alliance with a win. Mount Union 35, Johns Hopkins 26.

Frank: This game plays out similar to the game Mount Union won against Muhlenberg — a somewhat sluggish chess match will develop early, but by the middle of the third quarter, the size and speed differences for Mount Union will begin to show through for separation on the scoreboard. Take nothing away from Johns Hopkins — they have bounced back with authority since the Susquehanna loss this year. To me, this is the epitome of “sometimes you need a bad loss to lead you to good wins,” and they keep growing as a team. Like last week, they have to play turnover-free football to have a chance in this game. But they also need to establish the run to enable David Tammaro to be effective. A team like Mount Union possesses linebackers that can both spy on Tammaro to take away his run and drop back into coverage on pass plays — their versatility at that position will hamper the Hopkins “Plan C” of letting Tammaro tuck and run. Because of this, the game will be truly won at the line of scrimmage because the run will be key for both teams, especially in the first half. Mount Union 40, Johns Hopkins 20.

Greg: The Blue Jays have been on the same field with Mount Union just two years ago and more than held their own. There are a lot of new faces on both sides in this matchup, but that experience does take away the first-timers-against-Mount-Union narrative that we’re usually fond of. Both teams are better versions of their 2016 selves. Purple Raider health is an issue, particularly at the skill positions on offense. Can the Petro-cat work for extended periods of time this week? I don’t think the Purple Raiders care to find out. Johns Hopkins has a dynamic offense that can put up some points on Mount Union. Blue Jay quarterback David Tammaro and his cohorts are probably going to need to find 30 points to have a chance. Like the 2016 contest, I see Johns Hopkins pushing Mount Union to the limit, but coming up just a tad short. Mount Union 31, Johns Hopkins 24.

Keith: Some Cru backers like to complain about UMHB having to face the toughest road to the Stagg Bowl. But it’s a blessing in disguise, because after beating No. 7 Hardin-Simmons twice and No. 3 St. John’s last week, what’s a game against No. 5 but another test? UMHB has never beaten UW-Whitewater, and this year’s editions are mirror images, down to each averaging 6 yards per carry and allowing 2.1. Something’s got to give, so watch the line play and the tackling for a clue. Ultimately, a UW-Whitewater secondary that’s allowed a stack of big pass plays in the playoffs might get burned for another one, deciding another weird-score matchup of these purple powers.Mary Hardin-Baylor 23, UW-Whitewater 19.

Ryan: Last week I was a bit soft on UW-Whitewater — this week, I was close to shifting gears and predicting a renewed UMU/UWW Stagg Bowl. However, UW-W’s quarterfinal 1-9 passing stat line, with an interception, is a hard one to overlook. Against UMHB, Whitewater isn’t going to be able to jump out to the kind of lead that it did against Bethel, thus controlling the clock and pounding the rock for the remainder of the game. It will need to be able to successfully complete passes and find innovative ways to move the ball. UMHB has four All-Region guys in its line and linebacking corps, so the run game isn’t going to be as effective. The Cru, on the other hand, has a good number of offensive weapons and should be able to find ways to pick apart the Warhawk D. Mary Hardin-Baylor 28, UW-Whitewater 20.

Pat: I’m going to provide the alternate scenario from the one where Mary Hardin-Baylor wins a low-scoring game. Suppose, if you will, that Jase Hammack is still bothered by his late-game injury from the quarterfinals. Suppose that De’Nerian Thomas is not quite as capable of moving the offense and testing the Warhawks pass defense the same way that St. Norbert did. Suppose the Cru turn the ball over a couple of times (see Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Hardin-Simmons, Oct. 6). At this point, you’re probably thinking I’m setting you up for a UWW pick, but I’m not. Even in this scenario, I still think the Cru have a path to victory. Thomas would be similar but more athletic than the quarterback UWW faced last week. Markeith Miller is in the same boat. The UWW defense will certainly keep Miller from running all over the yard, but that probably won’t be enough, although it might take a special teams score to win it. Mary Hardin-Baylor 17, UW-Whitewater 13.

Adam: Defense, defense, and more defense. Two of the nation’s top scoring defenses will grind out a slugfest down in Texas. The Cru want to make the Warhawks one-dimensional and force Cole Wilber to beat them. Similarly, the Warhawks want to slow Markeith Miller and force a banged-up Jase Hammack or an inexperienced DeNerian Thomas to air it out. I expect the Cru’s game plan will feature a methodical pace, with the offense content to win the field position battle rather than press for big plays. The defense was exposed by Jackson Erdmann last week, but was able to force turnovers to seal the victory. The Cru allowed just 47 rushing yards to St. John’s. If they can get an early lead and force the Warhawks to throw the ball more than 15 times in an effort to catch up, the home team will have the advantage. If Whitewater is able to get the lead early, the rushing attack of Ronny Ponick and Alex Peete will try to wear down one of the nation’s top defenses. Mary Hardin-Baylor boasts the nation’s top turnover margin, and the Cru may need to come up with another big takeaway to decide what should be a low-scoring, tightly contested semifinal classic. Mary Hardin-Baylor 14, UW-Whitewater 9.

Frank: I expect a close one from start to finish, especially with the ball hawks we’ve seen all season in the UMHB defense. It seemed last week that the weakness defensively for the Cru would be a potent passing attack, but even in that situation, they still pulled in turnovers. Cole Wilber is not Jackson Erdmann — he is a very good quarterback, but the likelihood of any UW-Whitewater passing attack being effective is much lower this week. On the flip side, the “pound the rock” mentality will balance time of possession and speed up this game for the Warhawks. They know a shootout would not work to their advantage — so expect them to play a possession game on offense while relying on their defense to force punts and turnovers to further help shorten the game. If the time of possession is not something to the effect of 35:00/25:00 in the Warhawks’ favor, the Cru will get a bus ticket to Shenandoah. Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, UW-Whitewater 14.

Greg: The Crusaders have taken over as Mount Union’s primary December foil, but these Warhawks are back in the semis and looking to reclaim their spot in the Stagg Bowl. Despite eye-popping numbers throughout much of the season, UMHB’s extraordinary offense has once again looked very ordinary in these playoffs. Offensively, the Warhawks have settled into a familiar rock-pounding rhythm. Both defenses are absolutely suffocating and, as if they needed the help, should be aided by a strong winds at Crusader Stadium on Saturday. This one has all the makings of a defensive slugfest where turnovers and a special teams play may spell the difference. It took a pair of long touchdown passes for UMHB to get by St. John’s in the quarterfinal and the Crusaders may not find that same luck this week. The Warhawks may upset a lot of people from Indianapolis to suburban Houston this weekend, but they don’t really care. UW-Whitewater 15, Mary Hardin-Baylor 13.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays and Fridays.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/07/quick-hits-predicting-the-semifinals/feed/3Around the Podcast 230: Down to the Final Fourhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/07/around-the-podcast-230-down-to-the-final-four/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/07/around-the-podcast-230-down-to-the-final-four/#respondFri, 07 Dec 2018 08:03:24 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4344Staggered starts! One game at noon, the other at 3:30! Replay! Video review! That’s what the semifinals are all about. In both of them, we have teams which have met before. In the case of Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Whitewater, they’ve met five times, with the Warhawks winning them all, dadgummit!

Keith’s keys to the game, Pat’s picks to click, and someone from Mount Union who wasn’t prohibited from talking to us highlight Around the Nation Podcast 230. (It’s a good conversation with Joe Mertens, a senior at UMU who does play-by-play on WRMU and has known these players for four years.)

Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Photo: K.J. Miller, making a catch with a huge cast on his hand. (Photo by Joe Fusco, d3photography.com)

Theme music: DJmentos.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/07/around-the-podcast-230-down-to-the-final-four/feed/00:56:14Staggered starts! One game at noon, the other at 3:30! Replay! Video review! That's what the semifinals are all about. In both of them, we have teams which have met before. In the case of Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Whitewater, they've met five times,[...]Staggered starts! One game at noon, the other at 3:30! Replay! Video review! That's what the semifinals are all about. In both of them, we have teams which have met before. In the case of Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Whitewater, they've met five times, with the Warhawks winning them all, dadgummit! Keith's keys to the game, Pat's picks to click, and someone from Mount Union who wasn't prohibited from talking to us highlight Around the Nation Podcast 230. (It's a good conversation with Joe Mertens, a senior at UMU who does play-by-play on WRMU and has known these players for four years.) Pat and Keith talk about it all in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 229: Gutting it outhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/03/around-the-nation-podcast-229-gutting-it-out/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/03/around-the-nation-podcast-229-gutting-it-out/#respondMon, 03 Dec 2018 08:16:30 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4339Whether pounding the rock, running a non-Wildcat, throwing deep down the field or just being what we thought you were, there’s a storyline for each game on Saturday.

Jackson Erdmann finishes the game with a separated shoulder and Mary Hardin-Baylor finishes with a pair of interceptions and a three-point win. And, as T.J. Josey says, it’s a game the Cru sorely needed. UW-Whitewater’s rock-pounding and defense has looked comfortingly reminiscent of the Warhawks of old. Like 2011 old or so.

Meanwhile, Mount Union put Josh Petruccelli behind center and Muhlenberg couldn’t do anything about it. And Johns Hopkins looked fantastic on offense — enough so that Keith McMillan was ready to say something about the Blue Jays’ trip to Alliance.

Pat and Keith talk about it all, first the high points, then all the points, in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/12/03/around-the-nation-podcast-229-gutting-it-out/feed/01:00:36Whether pounding the rock, running a non-wildcat, throwing deep down the field or just being what we thought you were, there's a storyline for each game on Saturday. Jackson Erdmann finishes the game with a separated shoulder and Mary Hardin-Baylor [...]Whether pounding the rock, running a non-wildcat, throwing deep down the field or just being what we thought you were, there's a storyline for each game on Saturday. Jackson Erdmann finishes the game with a separated shoulder and Mary Hardin-Baylor finishes with a pair of interceptions and a three-point win. And, as T.J. Josey says, it's a game the Cru sorely needed. UW-Whitewater's rock-pounding and defense has looked comfortingly reminiscent of the Warhawks of old. Like 2011 old or so. Meanwhile, Mount Union put Josh Petruccelli behind center and Muhlenberg couldn't do anything about it. And Johns Hopkins looked fantastic on offense -- enough so that Keith McMillan was ready to say something about the Blue Jays' trip to Alliance. Pat and Keith talk about it all, first the high points, then all the points, in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: We predict the quarterfinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/30/quick-hits-we-predict-the-quarterfinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/30/quick-hits-we-predict-the-quarterfinals/#commentsFri, 30 Nov 2018 18:29:16 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4324We’re down to four games, so it’s time to bring a little commentary back — here’s our take on the national quarterfinal games, with, perhaps, something resembling explanation.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas each take their crack at it this week and every week from here to the Stagg Bowl. Photo: Jonel Reed streaking up the sidelines against Berry. (Photo by Joe Fusco, d3photography.com).

St. John’s at Mary Hardin-Baylor

Keith’s take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 35, St. John’s 21. This is the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the Top 25, so let’s just enjoy it. The Johnnies have the best quarterback on the field, but this will be the fastest defense he’s seen since the Big Ten. (It’s also No. 1 nationally vs. the pass, with 26 INTs and 4 TDs allowed.) UMHB showed last week that not even its quarterback issues are actual issues, and I think the Cru plays its closest game of the year and gives up a season-high point total, and still wins with room to breathe.

Ryan’s take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 35, St. John’s 24. There’s so much to be drawn to with the Johnnies returning to the level of play we saw in the early 2000s, but it’s hard to go against a defense that has only twice this year given up double-digits on the scoreboard (and only 15 points total this postseason). Despite early-season coaching drama and season-long quarterback shuffling, the Cru’s level of play has been absolutely crippling for its opponents.

Pat’s take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 27, St. John’s 21. The biggest question for me is about the St. John’s defense, which gave up 609 yards of total offense to St. Thomas. They bent a whole lot, and they broke a little, in giving up 20 points, but picked off five passes. They’ll need to figure out a way to stop the UMHB run game, since the Cru could simply run them to oblivion. However, I do think that the Johnnies will score some points, and I’m looking for a game which is close at the end.

Adam’s take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 43, St. John’s 42.The most exciting game of this round features two electric offenses. The Johnnies have the edge at the quarterback position, but can their defense keep up with the speed of the Cru? UMHB seems destined to play three more games in its home state, but faces its toughest challenge yet.

Frank’s take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, St. John’s 21.The Cru jets out to an early lead, and it will be too little, too late in a comeback attempt by Jackson Erdmann and the Johnnies.

Greg’s take: Mary Hardin-Baylor 31, St. John’s 28.Can Jackson Erdmann find enough time and space to give the Johnnies a chance? I believe so. I also believe the Cru have enough offense of their own to outlast the Johnnies and advance.

Hansen odds to advance: Mary Hardin-Baylor, 74%.Consensus: Mary Hardin-Baylor, but it gets closer with every prediction, so by Saturday, who knows?

Bethel at UW-Whitewater

Keith’s take: UW-Whitewater 34, Bethel 24. This game might lack the flash of other matchups, but for those who like mauling lines, backs who keep their feet churning and teams who exude joy, it’ll be the best matchup of the quarterfinals. The Warhawks, for a team that won by 33 in Round 2, cut it close in several ways and will have to tighten up against the Royals, but ultimately they are too deep and too adaptable to any style of game to be worn down. Warhawks pull away late.

Ryan’s take: Bethel 41, UW-Whitewater 38. I suspect I’m bucking my colleagues here, but Bethel has been so good over the past three weeks (averaging more than 400 yards of offense a game and putting so much pressure on opponents’ quarterbacks) that it’ll be hard to staunch that momentum.

Pat’s take: UW-Whitewater 24, Bethel 15. Get all your rock-pounding right here. Or your smash-mouthing. Harry Henschler and Kyle Kilgore on each side will provide focus points for the opposing offensive lines, but hardly the only players worth noting on defense. I think points will be more at a premium because of the defensive performers and because of offenses that like to keep the ball on the ground.

Adam’s take: UW-Whitewater 17, Bethel 10. Another matchup of similar styles. The Warhawks and Royals butter their bread with rushing and defense. This is going to be a classic Wisconsin-Minnesota slugfest. The Royals defense will need to keep it close, so that UW-W can’t force Jaran Roste into more passes than Bethel would like to attempt.

Frank’s take: UW-Whitewater 27, Bethel 14. Rush defense has been both teams’ specialty this year, but the Warhawks will overcome the Royals’ ground-stop after Cole Wilber forces Bethel to diversify their defense.

Greg’s take: UW-Whitewater 28, Bethel 10. This isn’t the Pound The Rock Warhawks of championship vintage, but the home side should be able to grind down the Royals at the line of scrimmage and inch away in the last 20 minutes.

Muhlenberg at Mount Union

Keith’s take: Mount Union 45, Muhlenberg 14. In another matchup, I could see the Mules advancing again, but they’d need everyone on defense to play like Frankie Feaster and Nick Sirico to match what the Purple Raiders lineup brings. And then there’s the matter of the opportunistic Mount Union defense.

Ryan’s take: Mount Union 49, Muhlenberg 14. There’s really very little stopping the Purple Raiders from getting back to the Stagg Bowl in a couple of weeks, especially seeing how D’Angelo Fulford performed being back under center. Muhlenberg has done admirably this postseason and should be able to use this as a springboard to better things in the coming years.

Pat’s take: Mount Union 53, Muhlenberg 7. This presents an opportunity for the Purple Raider 2’s to earn back some trust with the Mount Union fans, regardless of their status with the coaches.

Adam’s take: Mount Union 45, Muhlenberg 17. The Mules’ historic run ends here. Mount Union has too many weapons on offense even if D’Angelo Fulford is less than 100 percent. It might be close early, but the Purple Raiders will pull away with big plays from special teams and defense. The Mules have a deep and talented secondary, but have not seen wide receivers like Justin Hill and Jared Ruth.

Frank’s take: Mount Union 47, Muhlenberg 20. The Mules will be able to keep this close for the first quarter, but little by little, Mount Union will pull away after wearing down a stalwart Muhlenberg defense.

Greg’s take: Mount Union 48, Muhlenberg 10. Congratulations are in order to Muhlenberg on its historic run to the quarterfinals, but Alliance is where a lot of historic seasons meet their end.

RPI at Johns Hopkins

Keith’s take: Johns Hopkins 38, RPI 24. On one hand, RPI just snuffed out a top-five team led by an all-American QB and the nation’s No. 2 defense. On the other, the Blue Jays just hung 58 on a Frostburg defense that was allowing 14.4. Even in the rain, I like David Tammaro and Co. to keep it going.

Ryan’s take: Johns Hopkins 31, RPI 21. The massive second-half adjustments Hopkins made last week are hard to look past — that’s the kind of thing that sets great playoff teams apart. JHU has the tools to advance, but it will need to keep from turning the ball over so often as Brockport did against RPI in Round 2.

Pat’s take: Johns Hopkins 31, RPI 17. Take that, state schools. Academic powerhouses for the win! (Well, Johns Hopkins for the actual win.) Looking for the JHU offense to be clicking in full gear on Saturday.

Adam’s take: Johns Hopkins 31, RPI 14.The only unranked team still playing gives opposing quarterbacks fits. If David Tammaro can do what Joe Germinerio couldn’t and solve the Engineers, the Blue Jays will advance to the semis for the first time. Johns Hopkins is comfortable playing a high-scoring shootout, but does RPI’s offense have the power to keep up?

Frank’s take: RPI 24, Johns Hopkins 21. The game sets up similar to the RPI/Brockport game, but on paper, Brockport had a slightly better defense than Hopkins. The turnover ratio gives RPI a narrow win, especially if it rains.

Greg’s take: Johns Hopkins 35, RPI 17. RPI’s defense did a whole lot of bending last weekend, but survived several late pushes from Brockport. The Blue Jays are on an absolute tear right now and may well push the Engineers past the breaking point.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/30/quick-hits-we-predict-the-quarterfinals/feed/3Around the Nation Podcast 228: Down to four gameshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/30/around-the-nation-podcast-228-down-to-four-games/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/30/around-the-nation-podcast-228-down-to-four-games/#commentsFri, 30 Nov 2018 06:51:22 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4320We’ve got one national semifi… no, sorry, four national quarterfinals, and we think three of them are shaping up to be pretty good, as RPI can certainly hold its own against Johns Hopkins, UW-Whitewater and Bethel should be a clash of similar teams and UMHB and St. John’s will give each other what should be the best test either of them has faced this year.

Of the eight head coaches on the sideline this upcoming Saturday, two of them have particularly challenging jobs ahead, preparing for those toughest tests, and since we’ve already talked to Pete Fredenburg this season on the podcast, we sit down with Gary Fasching, head coach of St. John’s. He talks us through what a team has to do to prepare for not only a top-notch opponent, but a long trip, on Podcast 228.

Pat, Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi preview the four games, then Pat and Keith discuss them as well as we get you one complete hour of pregame coverage in your Game Day edition of the national quarterfinals on the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/30/around-the-nation-podcast-228-down-to-four-games/feed/11:00:00We've got one national semifi... no, sorry, four national quarterfinals, and we think three of them are shaping up to be pretty good, as RPI can certainly hold its own against Johns Hopkins, UW-Whitewater and Bethel should be a clash of similar team[...]We've got one national semifi... no, sorry, four national quarterfinals, and we think three of them are shaping up to be pretty good, as RPI can certainly hold its own against Johns Hopkins, UW-Whitewater and Bethel should be a clash of similar teams and UMHB and St. John's will give each other what should be the best test either of them has faced this year. Of the eight head coaches on the sideline this upcoming Saturday, two of them have particularly challenging jobs ahead, preparing for those toughest tests, and since we've already talked to Pete Fredenburg this season on the podcast, we sit down with Gary Fasching, head coach of St. John's. He talks us through what a team has to do to prepare for not only a top-notch opponent, but a long trip, on Podcast 228. Pat, Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi preview the four games, then Pat and Keith discuss them as well as we get you one complete hour of pregame coverage in your Game Day edition of the national quarterfinals on the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 227: No place like homehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/26/around-the-nation-podcast-227-no-place-like-home/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/26/around-the-nation-podcast-227-no-place-like-home/#commentsMon, 26 Nov 2018 06:34:02 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4317Well, how about that, with RPI getting a big upset win, and Johns Hopkins getting a large win to send Frostburg to Division II on, and St. Norbert giving a valiant effort and Mount Union looking all Machine-like?

No, we know — many of you are not happy with the unbalanced way the bracket was laid out, and some of you are talking about reseeding the bracket. There are definitely positives and negatives to this — the NAIA does it, and college baseball does it as well, so Pat and Keith talk a little bit about what that looks like, and how it could work, if Division III were to ever give it a shot in football.

In addition, Pat and Keith each give their individual take on all eight second-round games. Who did they want to see do the same, but better? Who was playing at ludicrous speed? What does Keith have to say to those who don’t watch Mount Union until the semifinals? Plus, what did Tyler Messinger have to deliver about his great rushing afternoon for Johns Hopkins?

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/26/around-the-nation-podcast-227-no-place-like-home/feed/10:44:17Well, how about that, with RPI getting a big upset win, and Johns Hopkins getting a large win to send Frostburg to Division II on, and St. Norbert giving a valiant effort and Mount Union looking all Machine-like? No, we know -- many of you are not h[...]Well, how about that, with RPI getting a big upset win, and Johns Hopkins getting a large win to send Frostburg to Division II on, and St. Norbert giving a valiant effort and Mount Union looking all Machine-like? No, we know -- many of you are not happy with the unbalanced way the bracket was laid out, and some of you are talking about reseeding the bracket. There are definitely positives and negatives to this -- the NAIA does it, and college baseball does it as well, so Pat and Keith talk a little bit about what that looks like, and how it could work, if Division III were to ever give it a shot in football. In addition, Pat and Keith each give their individual take on all eight second-round games. Who did they want to see do the same, but better? Who was playing at ludicrous speed? What does Keith have to say to those who don't watch Mount Union until the semifinals? Plus, what did Tyler Messinger have to deliver about his great rushing afternoon for Johns Hopkins? The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Our crew predicts the second roundhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/23/quick-hits-our-crew-predicts-the-second-round/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/23/quick-hits-our-crew-predicts-the-second-round/#commentsFri, 23 Nov 2018 16:24:26 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4308The story goes, one day on a long ride to a playoff game at Thiel (which tells you how long ago this happened), Pat and Keith decided to pass the time by guessing not just the winner of each second-round playoff game, but the score. And there was born the expectations game: Do we expect a close game? A high-scoring game? A blowout? Does everyone agree on who will win? Those are the factors worth looking at.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas each take their guesses at scores for each first-round game. Plus, we have Logan Hansen’s odds to advance.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below, or tweet at us at @D3Keith, @NewsTipps and @d3football. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks and the highlights from the weekend’s playoff games.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/23/quick-hits-our-crew-predicts-the-second-round/feed/3Around the Nation Podcast 226: Four hours with eight gameshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/23/around-the-nation-podcast-226-four-hours-eight-games/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/23/around-the-nation-podcast-226-four-hours-eight-games/#respondFri, 23 Nov 2018 04:37:46 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4303Sixteen teams play eight games over a course of four hours on Saturday, in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. And we should be in line for some great games, now that we’ve gotten through the first round.

Exactly how good? Pat ranked all eight games from worst to best, with one particular matchup getting particularly high marks. In addition, we talked with Rod Sandberg, coach of Whitworth, whose team hasn’t been to the second round in a while, about the challenges the Pirates face not only with their St. John’s opponent as well as traveling halfway across the country. We also chat with Johns Hopkins coach Jim Margraff about his team’s success in bouncing back from an early-season loss and heading to Frostburg State this weekend.

Pat, Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi preview all eight games and get you ready for our noon kickoffs in our Game Day podcast for Week 13. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/23/around-the-nation-podcast-226-four-hours-eight-games/feed/01:08:20Sixteen teams play eight games over a course of four hours on Saturday, in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. And we should be in line for some great games, now that we've gotten through the first round. Exactly how good? Pat ranked[...]Sixteen teams play eight games over a course of four hours on Saturday, in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. And we should be in line for some great games, now that we've gotten through the first round. Exactly how good? Pat ranked all eight games from worst to best, with one particular matchup getting particularly high marks. In addition, we talked with Rod Sandberg, coach of Whitworth, whose team hasn't been to the second round in a while, about the challenges the Pirates face not only with their St. John's opponent as well as traveling halfway across the country. We also chat with Johns Hopkins coach Jim Margraff about his team's success in bouncing back from an early-season loss and heading to Frostburg State this weekend. Pat, Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi preview all eight games and get you ready for our noon kickoffs in our Game Day podcast for Week 13. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 225: Just good enoughhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/19/around-the-nation-podcast-225-just-good-enough/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/19/around-the-nation-podcast-225-just-good-enough/#respondMon, 19 Nov 2018 08:38:26 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4299Keith McMillan pleaded for a first round of the playoffs that didn’t stink. And he got it, if nothing else, because his alma mater, Randolph-Macon, upset John Carroll.

Now, your mileage may have varied. With a margin of victory of nearly 34 points on average, these were not great games. With a near quadruple monkey stomp and several other games that looked like the usual top seed vs. No. 8 seed contests, there weren’t many worth watching for a neutral Division III fan. Unless, of course, you hooked into the Randolph-Macon win, or St. Norbert’s upset of Trine, or Muhlenberg’s dramatic finish at Delaware Valley.

Hear highlights from Saturday, postgame commentary from teams advancing to the Round of 16, and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/19/around-the-nation-podcast-225-just-good-enough/feed/00:55:00Keith McMillan pleaded for a first round of the playoffs that didn't stink. And he got it, if nothing else, because his alma mater, Randolph-Macon, upset John Carroll. Now, your mileage may have varied. With a margin of victory of nearly 34 points o[...]Keith McMillan pleaded for a first round of the playoffs that didn't stink. And he got it, if nothing else, because his alma mater, Randolph-Macon, upset John Carroll. Now, your mileage may have varied. With a margin of victory of nearly 34 points on average, these were not great games. With a near quadruple monkey stomp and several other games that looked like the usual top seed vs. No. 8 seed contests, there weren't many worth watching for a neutral Division III fan. Unless, of course, you hooked into the Randolph-Macon win, or St. Norbert's upset of Trine, or Muhlenberg's dramatic finish at Delaware Valley. Hear highlights from Saturday, postgame commentary from teams advancing to the Round of 16, and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Predicting the first-round scoreshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/16/quick-hits-predicting-the-first-round-scores/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/16/quick-hits-predicting-the-first-round-scores/#respondFri, 16 Nov 2018 16:53:35 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4290The story goes, one day on a long ride to a playoff game at Thiel (which tells you how long ago this happened), Pat and Keith decided to pass the time by guessing not just the winner of each first-round playoff game, but the score. And there was born the expectations game: Do we expect a close game? A high-scoring game? A blowout? Does everyone agree on who will win? Those are the factors worth looking at.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas each take their guesses at scores for each first-round game. Plus, we have Logan Hansen’s odds to advance and at the bottom, a widget you can manipulate to get details on all 32 teams and compare teams head-to-head in a multitude of categories.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below, or tweet at us at @D3Keith, @NewsTipps, @d3football, @adamturer, @frankrossi and @wallywabash. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks and the highlights from the weekend’s playoff games.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/16/quick-hits-predicting-the-first-round-scores/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast 224: Prelude to a bunch of barnburnershttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/16/around-the-nation-podcast-224-prelude-to-a-bunch-of-barnburners/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/16/around-the-nation-podcast-224-prelude-to-a-bunch-of-barnburners/#respondFri, 16 Nov 2018 09:02:52 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4287If the second round of the playoffs is your big turkey dinner with all the trimmings and every side you could want, then the first round is like that tray of vegetables and dip that you end up nibbling on while you wait. You can smell that turkey, the stuffings, the greens, the bread, but you have to wait.

We all have to wait. And now, not only do we have to wait, but we’re hungry.

Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan get you all lined up for Saturday’s first-round games, with the usual previews from Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Plus, we hear one Division III quarterback remind us exactly why it’s so important to be able to run the ball in the playoffs, and we’ll talk with Mark Baltz, the Division III coordinator of officials. He tells us how officiating crews get selected and what type of evaluations they go through in the playoffs, not to mention how far they can travel. Plus, there’s a well-known former NFL player who is now a Division III football head coach, and Andrew DiDonato, the head coach at Grove City, has some advice for Earlham and all those who are trying to pick a football program up off the mat.

That and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/16/around-the-nation-podcast-224-prelude-to-a-bunch-of-barnburners/feed/00:59:59If the second round of the playoffs is your big turkey dinner with all the trimmings and every side you could want, then the first round is like that tray of vegetables and dip that you end up nibbling on while you wait. You can smell that turkey, t[...]If the second round of the playoffs is your big turkey dinner with all the trimmings and every side you could want, then the first round is like that tray of vegetables and dip that you end up nibbling on while you wait. You can smell that turkey, the stuffings, the greens, the bread, but you have to wait. We all have to wait. And now, not only do we have to wait, but we're hungry. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan get you all lined up for Saturday's first-round games, with the usual previews from Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Plus, we hear one Division III quarterback remind us exactly why it's so important to be able to run the ball in the playoffs, and we'll talk with Mark Baltz, the Division III coordinator of officials. He tells us how officiating crews get selected and what type of evaluations they go through in the playoffs, not to mention how far they can travel. Plus, there's a well-known former NFL player who is now a Division III football head coach, and Andrew DiDonato, the head coach at Grove City, has some advice for Earlham and all those who are trying to pick a football program up off the mat. That and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 223: ‘It’s definitely not what we want’http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/12/around-the-nation-podcast-223-its-definitely-not-what-we-want/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/12/around-the-nation-podcast-223-its-definitely-not-what-we-want/#respondMon, 12 Nov 2018 07:41:21 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4283That line up top is what the national committee chair told us when talking about new restrictions on travel for the NCAA playoffs, as the NCAA clawed back one of the first-round flights the committee had previously been given to play with. What else did Jim Catanzaro say? We asked about seeding Mount Union and John Carroll to meet up in the quarterfinals, about whether St. John’s deserved a No. 1 seed, and about who were the last teams left on the board when the final at-large team was selected. You might be surprised to hear what the committee thought about Linfield’s loss to an NAIA team, and what the committee chair’s take was when the North Region rankings looked unlike the other three regions.

Plus our intrepid podcast hosts, Pat Coleman and guest host Frank Rossi, go through what the committee got right and wrong, the best matchups, toughest roads, and still have time for game balls, hidden highlights (and lowlights) and the interesting stats from Week 11.

That and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/12/around-the-nation-podcast-223-its-definitely-not-what-we-want/feed/01:05:58That line up top is what the national committee chair told us when talking about new restrictions on travel for the NCAA playoffs, as the NCAA clawed back one of the first-round flights the committee had previously been given to play with. What else[...]That line up top is what the national committee chair told us when talking about new restrictions on travel for the NCAA playoffs, as the NCAA clawed back one of the first-round flights the committee had previously been given to play with. What else did Jim Catanzaro say? We asked about seeding Mount Union and John Carroll to meet up in the quarterfinals, about whether St. John's deserved a No. 1 seed, and about who were the last teams left on the board when the final at-large team was selected. You might be surprised to hear what the committee thought about Linfield's loss to an NAIA team, and what the committee chair's take was when the North Region rankings looked unlike the other three regions. Plus our intrepid podcast hosts, Pat Coleman and guest host Frank Rossi, go through what the committee got right and wrong, the best matchups, toughest roads, and still have time for game balls, hidden highlights (and lowlights) and the interesting stats from Week 11. That and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: All the marbleshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/09/quick-hits-all-the-marbles/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/09/quick-hits-all-the-marbles/#commentsFri, 09 Nov 2018 17:52:18 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4276This is it — the last regular-season weekend of the season. Maybe there’s snow on the ground where you are. Maybe you have a bitter rival coming to town and an epic tailgate with old friends — well, that’s what Quick Hits is like for us, too. Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot each week goes to a guest prognosticator, and this week’s is Greg Thomas, our bracketology guru. He’ll be joining us through the playoffs as well, when Quick Hits shifts to predicting the final score of each game.Photo: File photo from 2017 Shoes game, by Mick Neal, RPI athletics

— Pat Coleman

What will be the Week 11 Game of the Week?

Keith’s take: No. 25 Baldwin Wallace at No. 8 John Carroll/No. 9 St. Thomas at No. 22 Bethel. Both games match 8-1 teams; winners should be first at-large teams in field, losers’ seasons are over.

Ryan’s take: Thomas More at No. 4 St. John’s. After the way their season began, the Saints should be stoked they’re still so relevant to the conversation.

Pat’s take: No. 25 Baldwin Wallace at No. 8 John Carroll. Not only does it have all the playoff implications, but it’s a bona fide local rivalry as well.

Adam’s take: No. 9 St. Thomas at No. 22 Bethel. A rivalry game with a playoff berth at stake. Nothing better in Week 11.

Frank’s take: Salisbury at No. 6 Frostburg State. It’s the NJAC championship, and a Pool C bid could be taken from a bubble team if Salisbury wins. Hear more about it in today’s ATN Gameday Podcast.

Greg’s take: St. Thomas at Bethel. There are many good games, but this is a Top 25 showdown and a de facto elimination game between two teams that have the chops to make deep tournament runs.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 6 Frostburg State. Not because the Bobcats are vulnerable so much as their Regents Cup opponent, 8-1 Salisbury, has had a great defense and running game all year.

Ryan’s take: No. 11 Berry. The Vikings may be sailing high right now, but Trinity has already shown this year that they can hold their own against tough competition.

Adam’s take: No. 14 RPI. The resurgence of the Dutchmen has revitalized the Shoes rivalry. The Engineers have already clinched the LL title. Union could pull off the upset.

Frank’s take: No. 11 Berry. Berry has won the SAA already, so how the Vikings will approach the game at Trinity (Texas) will be interesting. Remember, Trinity challenged HSU earlier this season.

Greg’s take: No. 14 RPI. This game is actually pretty even on paper and I believe QH is contractually obligated to have one panelist pick RPI to be upset.

Which rivalry game will have the closest score?

Keith’s take: Dutchman Shoes. Almost all of them look like tight matchups. Union and RPI have already played one-point games; what’s one more?

Ryan’s take: The Secretaries Cup. Coast Guard’s resurgence this year has added some new life to the annual game against Merchant Marine — and could shake up the NEWMAC significantly.

Pat’s take: The Game. It wouldn’t be a “Game” between Randolph-Macon and Hampden-Sydney if it didn’t have some grinding and a little bitterness to boot.

Adam’s take: Monon Bell. The last two meetings were decided by a total of four points. DePauw will keep it close against No. 20 Wabash, trying to avoid its first losing season since 2013.

Frank’s take: Dutchman Shoes. RPI has won more with great defense in close games this year. I think this game lines up the same way.

Greg’s take: Cortaca Jug. This game looks like a low scoring grinder to me with a single point keeping the winner’s tournament hopes alive into Selection Sunday.

Which game are you following that nobody else on this panel is following?

Keith’s take: Alvernia at UNE. Both first-year programs have a win, but the Wolves haven’t scored since a garbage-time TD Oct. 13, and the Nor’Easters have been outscored by 117 since their win a week earlier.

Ryan’s take: N.C. Wesleyan at Maryville. Even with a loss, the Scots are in the playoffs, but if they do lose, it’s worth noting that Google Maps has them at 485 miles from Alliance, Ohio.

Pat’s take: Maine Maritime at Catholic. Just to hope that the alma mater doesn’t finish 0-10 this year. Go Cards!

Adam’s take: Shenandoah at Washington & Lee. I doubt anyone else is interested to see if my alma mater can win at least six games for the fourth straight year, a feat not accomplished since back when Garret LeRose and I were playing for the Generals.

Frank’s take: Coast Guard at Merchant Marine. More than 600 votes determined that I’d attend the Secretaries Cup Game between these two service academies. The Mariners even have a potential playoff bid still alive.

Greg’s take: Berry at Trinity (Texas).Berry has already clinched and Trinity isn’t in the playoff picture but a Berry loss here could significantly impact the playoff fortunes of Centre, Hardin-Simmons, and Muhlenberg. All the pieces matter.

Which team plays its way in or out of a home playoff game?

Keith’s take: North Central, in. Based on its result against Millikin, NCC has the widest range of outcomes; winnable home game in Round 1 or season over. I’ll guess the former.

Ryan’s take: Baldwin Wallace, out. I’m guessing that the matchup with JCU is someone’s game of the week, and I think BW will be out and JCU a shoo-in for Pool C after Saturday.

Pat’s take: St. Thomas, in. Despite the fact that Bethel looked better against St. John’s, the Royals don’t have Jackson Erdmann at QB to test Tommie DBs.

Adam’s take: No. 25 Baldwin Wallace. With a win over John Carroll, the Yellow Jackets would get in via Pool C and likely host a first round game. A loss to JCU not only means no home game, but likely no playoff appearance at all.

Frank’s take: Frostburg State. If the Bobcats lose, they could still win a Pool C bid but drop below fourth in the East because of a lack of regionally ranked opponents in their profile.

Greg’s take: John Carroll. The Streaks are a lock for an at-large bid and a home game with a win against Baldwin Wallace. A loss, and the Streaks are most likely done for 2018.

Pick a random Week 11 game and give it a trophy name.

Keith’s take: Tufts at Middlebury. Most of the season-ending games in the NESCAC are longstanding rivalries. This is what … the Tuftlebury Classic?

Pat’s take: Alma at Finlandia, for the 445 Mile Marker Trophy. Finlandia is in the same state as almost everyone else in the MIAA, but it’s hideously far. Alma is its closest MIAA opponent, at 445 miles.

Frank’s take: Alvernia at University of New England, for The 2018 Debut Supremacy Cup.

Greg’s take: Benedictine vs. Concordia-Chicago, for the I-88 Trophy.The Chicagoland rivals square off for a trophy which doesn’t actually exist yet as it is perpetually under construction.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/09/quick-hits-all-the-marbles/feed/3Around the Nation Podcast 222: We predict at-large teamshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/09/around-the-nation-podcast-222-we-predict-at-large-teams/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/09/around-the-nation-podcast-222-we-predict-at-large-teams/#commentsFri, 09 Nov 2018 08:54:45 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4273Often this time of year we do a projected Division III NCAA Tournament field, but this year we’re so busy making podcasts that we didn’t do one. Instead, Pat and Keith are doing both at the same time: talking through the process of selecting at-large teams right on this podcast.

This is a projected playoff field if the season ended today. All six teams that we got to choose can affect their playoff resume on the field on Saturday, and for that matter, so can all of the teams with automatic bids. Even those who are already in the field could impact their seeding with a loss or by winning while others around them lose.

And those are just the normal scenarios. We could see crazy scenarios, such as, say, last year when Carnegie Mellon committed a penalty and had a punt blocked to kill its potential upset of Case Western Reserve. What are the unlikely, but awesome scenarios that could occur? Greg Thomas threw a few out there and we discuss those as well.

Plus Kevin Bullis tells us how his UW-Whitewater team is looking entering Week 11, Keith asks Pat what could go wrong with this projection and Pat asks Keith to figure out what the Mayors Cup is. That and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Photo: Frostburg State back Grayson Boyce (Frostburg State athletics photo)

Theme music: DJmentos.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/09/around-the-nation-podcast-222-we-predict-at-large-teams/feed/21:17:13Often this time of year we do a projected Division III NCAA Tournament field, but this year we're so busy making podcasts that we didn't do one. Instead, Pat and Keith are doing both at the same time: talking through the process of selecting at-larg[...]Often this time of year we do a projected Division III NCAA Tournament field, but this year we're so busy making podcasts that we didn't do one. Instead, Pat and Keith are doing both at the same time: talking through the process of selecting at-large teams right on this podcast.
This is a projected playoff field if the season ended today. All six teams that we got to choose can affect their playoff resume on the field on Saturday, and for that matter, so can all of the teams with automatic bids. Even those who are already in the field could impact their seeding with a loss or by winning while others around them lose.
And those are just the normal scenarios. We could see crazy scenarios, such as, say, last year when Carnegie Mellon committed a penalty and had a punt blocked to kill its potential upset of Case Western Reserve. What are the unlikely, but awesome scenarios that could occur? Greg Thomas threw a few out there and we discuss those as well.
Plus Kevin Bullis tells us how his UW-Whitewater team is looking entering Week 11, Keith asks Pat what could go wrong with this projection and Pat asks Keith to figure out what the Mayors Cup is. That and more in the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 221: What do you want to know?http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/05/around-the-nation-podcast-221-what-do-you-want-to-know/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/05/around-the-nation-podcast-221-what-do-you-want-to-know/#respondMon, 05 Nov 2018 08:33:52 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4270The number of teams in the tournament now is up to 13 teams which have clinched automatic bid to the 2018 Division III playoffs. But even though some parts of the Division III playoff picture got clearer, others got cloudier — and that’s even assuming you could see the picture on Saturday. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say some of us were shut out of some of the big games.

We went mailbag this week and let your Twitter questions guide us through the first half of the podcast, talking about which regions seemed most likely to get at-large bids, whether Brockport would get a No. 1 seed or two teams from the West Region might get the nod. Would Baldwin Wallace get an at-large bid with a loss on Saturday? With a win?

Plus game balls, the week’s interesting stats and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/05/around-the-nation-podcast-221-what-do-you-want-to-know/feed/00:42:27The number of teams in the tournament now is up to 13 teams which have clinched automatic bid to the 2018 Division III playoffs. But even though some parts of the Division III playoff picture got clearer, others got cloudier -- and that's even assum[...]The number of teams in the tournament now is up to 13 teams which have clinched automatic bid to the 2018 Division III playoffs. But even though some parts of the Division III playoff picture got clearer, others got cloudier -- and that's even assuming you could see the picture on Saturday. It wouldn't be a stretch to say some of us were shut out of some of the big games. We went mailbag this week and let your Twitter questions guide us through the first half of the podcast, talking about which regions seemed most likely to get at-large bids, whether Brockport would get a No. 1 seed or two teams from the West Region might get the nod. Would Baldwin Wallace get an at-large bid with a loss on Saturday? With a win? Plus game balls, the week's interesting stats and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Clinching timehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/02/quick-hits-clinching-time/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/02/quick-hits-clinching-time/#respondFri, 02 Nov 2018 16:51:37 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4255We detail in the game day podcast how many teams might clinch on Saturday. Here our crew will tackle the game of the week, potential upsets, and tell you who might clinch today aside from, say, Mount Union.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot each week goes to a guest prognosticator, and this week’s is Sean Greene, who does play-by-play for Wesley football games on WDEL radio as well as Wesley’s video stream.

— Pat Coleman

Which game is the Week 10 game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 10 North Central at No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan. I’ll go with the Titans for a second straight week instead of E8, NJAC clashes and an NCC win could have a cascade effect.

Ryan’s take: No. 10 North Central at No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan. I think IWU should be ranked higher, and I’ve got them pegged to win.

Pat’s take: No. 10 North Central at No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan. I’m going to assume most of my colleagues here have good reasons, so read theirs.

Adam’s take: No. 10 North Central at No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan. I think the Cardinals are the more talented team, but the Titans have been the more impressive team so far. With a win, IWU can clinch its first outright CCIW title since 2009.

Sean’s take: No. 10 North Central at No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan. IWU clinches the CCIW Pool A with a win, while the loser gets a potential Pool C-crushing second loss. Doesn’t get much better in Week 10.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 4 UW-Whitewater. UW-Stevens Point beat Oshkosh last week, but this only happens if Warhawks relax after clinching a playoff spot.

Ryan’s take: No. 14 Trine. I think the Thunder have floated high up the poll, and with the way the MIAA has been this year, another shakeup would fit right in.

Pat’s take: No. 18 Salisbury. Wesley has had Salisbury’s number in recent years, so hopefully they lead by enough that a missed PAT won’t matter.

Adam’s take: No. 18 Salisbury. Wesley may take its frustration of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004 out on the Sea Gulls.

Sean’s take: No. 18 Salisbury. In 13 years calling Wesley games, they are 11-1 against their Route 13 rivals. Curious to see if Wesley’s scheme changes against the triple-option after the death of head coach/defensive coordinator Mike Drass.

Which non-purple team clinches an automatic bid this weekend?

Keith’s take: The Yellow Jackets from Randolph-Macon, although The Game is more fun with something to play for.

Ryan’s take: Eureka. The Red Devils haven’t gotten much national love yet, so I’m sure they’re itching to show their stuff in the postseason.

Pat’s take: Brockport. No purple in them Golden Eagles.

Adam’s take: Randolph-Macon. The streaking Yellow Jackets just need to get past Ferrum to make this season one of the least wacky in recent ODAC memory.

Frank’s take: Husson. Gallaudet’s SOS is less than .200. The thought that they could beat the Eagles is highly unlikely in the ECFC.

Sean’s take: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.No violet, lavender, mauve, or lilac to be found in the shadow of Mount Baldy. The Cardinal and Gold-clad Stags win the SCIAC for the first time since 1987.

Which game are you following that nobody else on this panel is following?

Keith’s take: Amherst and Trinity (Conn.). Because I’m endlessly fascinated by projecting how the NESCAC’s best would fare if it chose to participate in the playoffs.

Ryan’s take: Wash. U. at Millikin. Neither are going to the playoffs, but the Bears continue to show why they belong in the CCIW.

Pat’s take: Middlebury at Hamilton. The Rocking Chair has been won by Middlebury more times than I care to count, but some inconsistent results just have me wondering if the Continentals might take it home.

Adam’s take: Defiance at Earlham. I probably won’t be the only one. But if the Quakers can’t defeat winless Defiance this week, I don’t know when the record-breaking losing streak will end.

Frank’s take: Potentially up to 16 of them in nine East Region conferences and Pool B in our “In the Huddle” D3BlitzER whiparound show, noon to 4 p.m. ET on the D3Huddle Facebook channel.

Sean’s take: Rowan at Montclair State. The 6-2 Red Hawks could still play into the East Regional Rankings which would benefit Frostburg or Salisbury for seeding or a Pool C bid.

Who will still be tied for first in the ARC after this week’s games?

Keith’s take: Simpson and Wartburg.

Ryan’s take: Wartburg and Dubuque. Simpson has been hanging on too closely in games this season to remain with the leaders.

Pat’s take: Simpson and Wartburg. Wartburg won’t have much trouble with archrival Luther and Simpson has surprised all season, so now we should expect the win.

Adam’s take: Dubuque and Wartburg. The Knights take care of Luther with ease at home, while the Spartans get past Simpson on the road. That sets up a winner-take-all showdown in Week 11.

Frank’s take: Wartburg and Simpson. Simpson has played somewhat better defense than Dubuque this season. And Wartburg is playing a much lesser opponent.

Sean’s take: Wartburg and Dubuque. Wartburg should conquer the Norse, but Dubuque won’t need to rely on a Simpson missed PAT this year to stay on top (painful topic for Wesley fans).

Who goes into a rivalry game on a down note?

Keith’s take: Hard for me not to say Cortland here, although the Red Dragons can surprise us all.

Ryan’s take: Gettysburg. The Bullets have a very tough Muhlenberg team before taking the field against century-long rival F&M for the Lincoln Trophy.

Adam’s take: Hanover. The Panthers could play rival Franklin for the Victory Bell and the HCAC title in Week 11. But first, they have to get past a hot Rose-Hulman team. The Fightin’ Engineers have more recent big-game experience.

Frank’s take: Amherst. Trinity has steadily regained traction after a stunning loss to Williams. The Bantams nip the Mammoths before The Biggest Little Game in America next week vs. the Ephs.

Sean’s take: Carnegie Mellon. While they’re studying to cram Case Western Reserve’s Pool C dreams in the Academic Bowl, Westminster could pin a fourth demerit on the Tartans’ report card.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/02/quick-hits-clinching-time/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast 220: Saturday’s scenarioshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/02/around-the-nation-podcast-220-saturdays-scenarios/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/02/around-the-nation-podcast-220-saturdays-scenarios/#commentsFri, 02 Nov 2018 08:20:08 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4260This is where we get to crunch time. We could hand out as many as 15 of the 23 remaining automatic bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday, and so you can follow along, we go through each of the remaining conferences, rather exhaustively, to tell you who can clinch on Saturday, what they need to do, and who might be waiting until Week 11.

All 122 games on Saturday will take place in an 11-hour period, meaning results are going to be coming in fast and furious. Before the games start, set aside some time to get Pat and Keith’s take on what will happen in Week 10. Plus, Adam Turer joins in to talk about his story about Wabash in Thursday’s ATN column and what he takes away from the experience. And our guest is Hanover coach Matt Theobald, who is hoping his team can pull off two big wins and garner itself a share of the HCAC title.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/11/02/around-the-nation-podcast-220-saturdays-scenarios/feed/11:15:54This is where we get to crunch time. We could hand out as many as 15 of the 23 remaining automatic bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday, and so you can follow along, we go through each of the remaining conferences, rather exhaustively,[...]This is where we get to crunch time. We could hand out as many as 15 of the 23 remaining automatic bids to the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday, and so you can follow along, we go through each of the remaining conferences, rather exhaustively, to tell you who can clinch on Saturday, what they need to do, and who might be waiting until Week 11. All 122 games on Saturday will take place in an 11-hour period, meaning results are going to be coming in fast and furious. Before the games start, set aside some time to get Pat and Keith's take on what will happen in Week 10. Plus, Adam Turer joins in to talk about his story about Wabash in Thursday's ATN column and what he takes away from the experience. And our guest is Hanover coach Matt Theobald, who is hoping his team can pull off two big wins and garner itself a share of the HCAC title. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 219: Breaking down the regional rankingshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/31/around-the-nation-podcast-219-breaking-down-the-regional-rankings/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/31/around-the-nation-podcast-219-breaking-down-the-regional-rankings/#respondThu, 01 Nov 2018 02:24:01 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4251The first set of regional rankings came out on Wednesday, and our team went through all four regions and looked to see what made sense and what was out of place. You see, the first regional rankings don’t take into account results against regionally ranked opponents, because that relies on a previous regional ranking and … there isn’t a previous ranking yet, just the current one.

Does that mean the next ranking will look a lot different? Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas, our chief bracketology expert, go through each region and tackle the big questions and where things might change. He’s our guest host for this special edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

In addition, the placement of Hardin-Simmons and Centre brought out a lot of questions, as did the placement of Cortland and Salisbury. We explore those and others in this podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Photo: Hardin-Simmons and Centre at the center of discussion in the South Region. (HSU, Centre athletics photos)

Theme music: DJmentos.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/31/around-the-nation-podcast-219-breaking-down-the-regional-rankings/feed/00:47:20The first set of regional rankings came out on Wednesday, and our team went through all four regions and looked to see what made sense and what was out of place. You see, the first regional rankings don't take into account results against regionally[...]The first set of regional rankings came out on Wednesday, and our team went through all four regions and looked to see what made sense and what was out of place. You see, the first regional rankings don't take into account results against regionally ranked opponents, because that relies on a previous regional ranking and ... there isn't a previous ranking yet, just the current one. Does that mean the next ranking will look a lot different? Pat Coleman and Greg Thomas, our chief bracketology expert, go through each region and tackle the big questions and where things might change. He's our guest host for this special edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. In addition, the placement of Hardin-Simmons and Centre brought out a lot of questions, as did the placement of Cortland and Salisbury. We explore those and others in this podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation 218: The bid-clinching has begun!http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/29/around-the-nation-218-the-bid-clinching-has-begun/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/29/around-the-nation-218-the-bid-clinching-has-begun/#respondMon, 29 Oct 2018 08:28:28 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4248Yep, three teams have clinched their automatic bids to the NCAA Division III football playoffs, with 23 more to go, plus five true at-large bids. And it’s those at-large bids which will receive a ton of attention … first off, because they’re the most difficult decisions the committee will make, and secondly, because those teams are going to be candidates to get a first-round home game, and perhaps win a game or two.

Who played their way into consideration? Who played their way out? Which teams are being set up for multiple home games in the tournament, should they win out? Plus, how did Pat and Keith deal with this weekend’s losses on their Top 25 ballots? Who had amazing games that were just a bit under the radar? Which conference has games that just aren’t competitive at all? And everyone’s favorite backup quarterback wasn’t a backup this week.

Plus game balls, the week’s interesting stats and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/29/around-the-nation-218-the-bid-clinching-has-begun/feed/00:51:31Yep, three teams have clinched their automatic bids to the NCAA Division III football playoffs, with 23 more to go, plus five true at-large bids. And it's those at-large bids which will receive a ton of attention ... first off, because they're the m[...]Yep, three teams have clinched their automatic bids to the NCAA Division III football playoffs, with 23 more to go, plus five true at-large bids. And it's those at-large bids which will receive a ton of attention ... first off, because they're the most difficult decisions the committee will make, and secondly, because those teams are going to be candidates to get a first-round home game, and perhaps win a game or two. Who played their way into consideration? Who played their way out? Which teams are being set up for multiple home games in the tournament, should they win out? Plus, how did Pat and Keith deal with this weekend's losses on their Top 25 ballots? Who had amazing games that were just a bit under the radar? Which conference has games that just aren't competitive at all? And everyone's favorite backup quarterback wasn't a backup this week. Plus game balls, the week's interesting stats and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: What’s left to do? Lots.http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/26/quick-hits-whats-left-to-do-lots/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/26/quick-hits-whats-left-to-do-lots/#respondFri, 26 Oct 2018 19:18:18 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4235Week 9 this year is too early for anyone to clinch a bid to the playoffs, but those days are coming, and a couple of the games that will be key in deciding automatic bids are being played this weekend.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot each week goes to a guest prognosticator, and this week’s is Mary Hardin-Baylor fan Chad Hammonds, someone who follows UMHB very closely and knows that in order to be a fan of a top team, you need to know a little bit about the rest of the country, since you could be playing them in Week 12, 13, 14, etc. .

Which game is the Week 9 game of the week?

Ryan’s take: No. 18 Muhlenberg at No. 23 Johns Hopkins. Hard not to love this matchup, with the winner being in the driver’s seat for Centennial crownery.

Pat’s take: No. 18 Muhlenberg at No. 23 Johns Hopkins. The Centennial’s game of the year most years.

Adam’s take: Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins. Despite losing their conference opener, the Blue Jays still control their destiny in the Centennial Conference. This is a must-win for the conference’s perennial champion.

Frank’s take: No. 25 Salisbury at Rowan. It’s a game with Pool A & C implications for an undefeated team that’s entering the meat of its schedule (Salisbury). Look for a defensive battle.

Chad’s take: Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins. An early-season hiccup by the Blue Jays was quickly erased. While the Mules average 459 yards a game, the Blue Jays defense will be up to the challenge.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 13 Berry. Four of Vikings eight wins were within one score in the fourth. Birmingham Southern is 5-2.

Ryan’s take: No. 25 Salisbury. It’s been talked about several times that the undefeated Gulls haven’t been tested much yet. But Rowan certainly has been and is all the better for it.

Pat’s take: No. 25 Salisbury. This is the first big test for Salisbury, while Rowan is battle-tested.

Adam’s take: No. 25 Salisbury. The NJAC gauntlet starts now for the unbeaten Gulls, who travel to Rowan, then host Wesley, then close at Frostburg. The Profs have momentum after knocking off the Wolverines last week.

Adam’s take: Averett at Maryville. The two conference unbeatens in the USA South meet with much on the line. The Scots’ 2013 appearance is the only playoff berth between these two programs.

Frank’s take: WPI at MIT. It’s a crucial Pool B game in the NEWMAC. An MIT loss could reopen a playoff path for Thomas More and throw the NEWMAC standings into chaos.

Chad’s take: Hardin-Simmons at Southwestern. HSU is playing for its playoff life as they take on a Pirate team who runs well and stops the run well. A traditional, smash-mouth game will not disappoint. HSU with the close win.

Defiance, Earlham or William Paterson?

Keith’s take: William Paterson. The Pioneers and their 1-6 opponent, TCNJ, are similarly challenged, scoring 40 and 62 points, respectively, this season.

Ryan’s take: William Paterson. The Pioneers will pick up not just their first win of the season, but also their first win in more than two years.

Pat’s take: Earlham. I’m going with the team on the bye because it’s a good time of the year for a small roster to get a break.

Adam’s take: Earlham. If not now, against winless Defiance, when will the Quakers finally snap their streak? At least the Quakers can’t take an L this week, on their bye.

Frank’s take: I won’t be Defiant against Rose-Hulman, nobody is Quaking at the thought of idle Earlham, but Pioneers will shock TCNJ — even without covered wagons.

Chad’s take: William Paterson. The Pioneers get off the schneid against TCNJ.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/26/quick-hits-whats-left-to-do-lots/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast 217: It’s not who you thinkhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/26/around-the-nation-podcast-not-who-you-think/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/26/around-the-nation-podcast-not-who-you-think/#respondFri, 26 Oct 2018 07:58:51 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4237Our Friday podcast is our game day special, the one you listen to when you know to know everything about the upcoming week’s games. Pat and guest co-host Frank Rossi of In the Huddle go through a half-dozen big games, then a half-dozen one-liners, and Frank makes six picks at the end to see if he can take them to the house.

Basically, this entire podcast consists of putting Frank on the spot, as he was called to fill in for Keith McMillan. We waited for the full class period before leaving, though, since Keith must have a Ph.D. in Division III football.

Our guest this week is Western New England coach Jason Lebeau, who talks about how you find Division III schools with football everywhere in New England, what it’s like taking over at your alma mater as a first-year head coach (sound familiar?) and talks about his players to watch so far this season.

Plus, Pat clucks like a chicken and talks like a computer, and Frank autocorrects Pat on his six incorrect picks from last week’s batch of 25. That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in iTunes. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/26/around-the-nation-podcast-not-who-you-think/feed/00:51:05Our Friday podcast is our game day special, the one you listen to when you know to know everything about the upcoming week's games. Pat and guest co-host Frank Rossi of In the Huddle go through a half-dozen big games, then a half-dozen one-liners, a[...]Our Friday podcast is our game day special, the one you listen to when you know to know everything about the upcoming week's games. Pat and guest co-host Frank Rossi of In the Huddle go through a half-dozen big games, then a half-dozen one-liners, and Frank makes six picks at the end to see if he can take them to the house. Basically, this entire podcast consists of putting Frank on the spot, as he was called to fill in for Keith McMillan. We waited for the full class period before leaving, though, since Keith must have a Ph.D. in Division III football. Our guest this week is Western New England coach Jason Lebeau, who talks about how you find Division III schools with football everywhere in New England, what it's like taking over at your alma mater as a first-year head coach (sound familiar?) and talks about his players to watch so far this season. Plus, Pat clucks like a chicken and talks like a computer, and Frank autocorrects Pat on his six incorrect picks from last week's batch of 25. That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 216: Committee chair explains it allhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/25/around-the-nation-podcast-216-committee-chair-explains-it-all/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/25/around-the-nation-podcast-216-committee-chair-explains-it-all/#commentsThu, 25 Oct 2018 19:00:24 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4231Are you new to Division III football? Is your team in playoff contention for the first time in a while? Are you a coach of a team which hopes to be in the playoffs someday? Or do you feel like you’re an expert when it comes to the Division III football postseason?

If you fit any of these categories, this episode of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast is a must-listen. That’s because we have brought in Division III football national committee chair (and Lake Forest head coach) Jim Catanzaro to talk about how the playoff process works, how teams are paired up, and everything you need to know about the playoffs. If you’re a head coach, he’ll tell you what the members of the committee want to see from a playoff contender’s non-conference schedule when considering them for an at-large bid to the playoffs. Do you think that the current selection criteria aren’t enough for a committee to make a decision on so few non-conference games? He’ll let you know what other factors might get used, and how much “human element” is involved.

That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/25/around-the-nation-podcast-216-committee-chair-explains-it-all/feed/60:41:48Are you new to Division III football? Is your team in playoff contention for the first time in a while? Are you a coach of a team which hopes to be in the playoffs someday? Or do you feel like you're an expert when it comes to the Division III footb[...]Are you new to Division III football? Is your team in playoff contention for the first time in a while? Are you a coach of a team which hopes to be in the playoffs someday? Or do you feel like you're an expert when it comes to the Division III football postseason? If you fit any of these categories, this episode of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast is a must-listen. That's because we have brought in Division III football national committee chair (and Lake Forest head coach) Jim Catanzaro to talk about how the playoff process works, how teams are paired up, and everything you need to know about the playoffs. If you're a head coach, he'll tell you what the members of the committee want to see from a playoff contender's non-conference schedule when considering them for an at-large bid to the playoffs. Do you think that the current selection criteria aren't enough for a committee to make a decision on so few non-conference games? He'll let you know what other factors might get used, and how much "human element" is involved. There's no excuse for not understanding how the playoffs work -- this is your playoff introductory class. And Keith and Jim talk about old-school hip-hop, too. That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 215: Three weeks to Selection Sundayhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/22/around-the-nation-podcast-215-three-weeks-to-selection-sunday/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/22/around-the-nation-podcast-215-three-weeks-to-selection-sunday/#respondMon, 22 Oct 2018 08:03:16 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4227Well, there were some interesting losses and some unexpectedly narrow wins on Saturday. While that didn’t change the playoff picture as much as it changed the Top 25, there were still some key changes. There’s one team out there specifically that has to feel much better about its playoff chances after this week, and Pat and Keith talk about that and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

So, with Wesley dropping out of the picture, who’s next up? There are plenty of possibilities, plus Frostburg State still has Salisbury to play, and Frostburg didn’t exactly look like world-beaters on Saturday. You can hear Bobcats coach DeLane Fitzgerald’s reaction on this edition of the pod, then find out where they ended up on Pat and Keith’s Top 25 ballots. Plus, what team do Pat and Keith make up the vast majority of the votes for? All those nuggets are in this pod, plus game balls, the off-the-beaten-path highlights and everything you’ve come to expect from our Monday wrapup podcast.

That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/22/around-the-nation-podcast-215-three-weeks-to-selection-sunday/feed/00:40:55Well, there were some interesting losses and some unexpectedly narrow wins on Saturday. While that didn't change the playoff picture as much as it changed the Top 25, there were still some key changes. There's one team out there specifically that ha[...]Well, there were some interesting losses and some unexpectedly narrow wins on Saturday. While that didn't change the playoff picture as much as it changed the Top 25, there were still some key changes. There's one team out there specifically that has to feel much better about its playoff chances after this week, and Pat and Keith talk about that and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. So, with Wesley dropping out of the picture, who's next up? There are plenty of possibilities, plus Frostburg State still has Salisbury to play, and Frostburg didn't exactly look like world-beaters on Saturday. You can hear Bobcats coach DeLane Fitzgerald's reaction on this edition of the pod, then find out where they ended up on Pat and Keith's Top 25 ballots. Plus, what team do Pat and Keith make up the vast majority of the votes for? All those nuggets are in this pod, plus game balls, the off-the-beaten-path highlights and everything you've come to expect from our Monday wrapup podcast. That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: For the birdshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/19/quick-hits-for-the-birds/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/19/quick-hits-for-the-birds/#commentsFri, 19 Oct 2018 16:29:01 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4218Eagles, Cardinals — perhaps not more fierce than Bears or … more Bears, I suppose. But those are the focus this week in Week 8 of the 2018 Division III football season.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot each week goes to a guest prognosticator, and this week’s is Logan Hansen. You may remember him as the Wartburg alumnus who does a computer ranking of D-III teams, and he is on twitter at @LogHanRatings.

— Pat Coleman

Which game is the Week 8 game of the week?

Keith’s take: UW-La Crosse at No. 12 UW-Oshkosh. This should be closer than the rankings suggest, and could upset the playoff apple cart.

Ryan’s take: No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan at Washington U. The Bears’ win last week over Wheaton put them on everyone’s radars, and this is another tough test.

Pat’s take: No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan at Washington U. I priced out flights to St. Louis for this one. Not in the budget.

Adam’s take: UW-La Crosse at No. 12 UW-Oshkosh. Plenty to choose from this week, but this is essentially a WIAC and playoff elimination game.

Frank’s take: Hobart at No. 19 RPI. This could have Pool C implications if Hobart wins. RPI’s strength of schedule is excellent and will improve — a 1-loss RPI could win an at-large bid.

Logan’s take: No. 17 IWU at Wash U. I’m not sure which result would throw the bigger wrench into the tiebreakers, but Wash. U has shown they belong, and IWU has shown last season wasn’t a fluke.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 15 North Central. Carthage pushed UW-O, IWU and Millikin to the brink, so NCC best bring its A game.

Ryan’s take: No. 12 UW-Oshkosh. Though Oshkosh is coming off a real quality win, UW-La Crosse has shown more than a few flashes of greatness this fall.

Pat’s take: No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan. I look forward to learning if it really is as tough for teams to win in St. Louis as it is for Chicagoland teams in Bloomington.

Adam’s take: No. 19 RPI. Hobart and the Engineers have both played their share of nailbiters this season. The Statesmen win another close one.

Frank’s take: No. 17 Illinois Wesleyan. WashU at home, following a win vs. Wheaton … I’ll play the momentum as the Titans have looked mediocre in wins lately.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/19/quick-hits-for-the-birds/feed/2Around the Nation Podcast 214: Staying high and dryhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/19/around-the-nation-podcast-214-staying-high-and-dry/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/19/around-the-nation-podcast-214-staying-high-and-dry/#commentsFri, 19 Oct 2018 06:47:03 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4221Our Friday podcast is our game day special, the one you listen to when you know to know everything about the upcoming week’s games. Pat and Keith go through a half-dozen big games, then a half-dozen one-liners, and Keith makes six picks at the end to see if he can take them to the house.

But on one Division III football campus, there was a lot more going on this week than just preparing for a football game. Our guest is Averett coach Cleive Adams, whose team and campus had about six inches of rain dumped on it in very short order this week when the remnants of Hurricane Michael blew through. He tells us about how his team stayed safe and tried to put that aside to prepare to face the USA South’s defending champion, Huntingdon.

Plus, Pat makes 25 picks, from west to east, and Keith picks an animal to punch above its weight class. That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/19/around-the-nation-podcast-214-staying-high-and-dry/feed/10:52:07Our Friday podcast is our game day special, the one you listen to when you know to know everything about the upcoming week's games. Pat and Keith go through a half-dozen big games, then a half-dozen one-liners, and Keith makes six picks at the end t[...]Our Friday podcast is our game day special, the one you listen to when you know to know everything about the upcoming week's games. Pat and Keith go through a half-dozen big games, then a half-dozen one-liners, and Keith makes six picks at the end to see if he can take them to the house. But on one Division III football campus, there was a lot more going on this week than just preparing for a football game. Our guest is Averett coach Cleive Adams, whose team and campus had about six inches of rain dumped on it in very short order this week when the remnants of Hurricane Michael blew through. He tells us about how his team stayed safe and tried to put that aside to prepare to face the USA South's defending champion, Huntingdon. Plus, Pat makes 25 picks, from west to east, and Keith picks an animal to punch above its weight class. That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 213: Taking your questionshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/16/around-the-nation-podcast-213-taking-your-questions/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/16/around-the-nation-podcast-213-taking-your-questions/#respondTue, 16 Oct 2018 18:12:29 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4212Every Sunday night we take questions from listeners and followers on Twitter with the intent of answering the best one on the Monday podcast. When listeners turn around and give us 10 additional good questions, well, we need to do another entire podcast!

Pat and Keith tackle the following:

What’s the most interesting conference race?

Does the CCIW race make the conference seem stronger or weaker?

How far can the Johnnies go if they make the postseason?

Will UMHB secure more votes for No. 1?

Who is most likely to get upset later in the season?

How much better is Brockport this year than last year?

What part will Marietta’s momentum play this week vs. John Carroll?

Will Delaware Valley win the MAC?

Can a team from the East Region compete on the national stage?

How do you leave Randolph-Macon out of the Top 25?

And do not go away when that’s done. We talked with Averett coach Cleive Adams about what his team and his university is struggling with in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. You can hear a preview on this podcast, with the full interview to come on Friday.

That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/16/around-the-nation-podcast-213-taking-your-questions/feed/00:34:43Every Sunday night we take questions from listeners and followers on Twitter with the intent of answering the best one on the Monday podcast. When listeners turn around and give us 10 additional good questions, well, we need to do another entire pod[...]Every Sunday night we take questions from listeners and followers on Twitter with the intent of answering the best one on the Monday podcast. When listeners turn around and give us 10 additional good questions, well, we need to do another entire podcast! Pat and Keith tackle the following:
What's the most interesting conference race? Does the CCIW race make the conference seem stronger or weaker? How far can the Johnnies go if they make the postseason? Will UMHB secure more votes for No. 1? Who is most likely to get upset later in the season? How much better is Brockport this year than last year? What part will Marietta's momentum play this week vs. John Carroll? Will Delaware Valley win the MAC? Can a team from the East Region compete on the national stage? How do you leave Randolph-Macon out of the Top 25?
And do not go away when that's done. We talked with Averett coach Cleive Adams about what his team and his university is struggling with in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. You can hear a preview on this podcast, with the full interview to come on Friday.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 212: Taking down the big doghttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/15/around-the-nation-podcast-212-taking-down-the-big-dog/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/15/around-the-nation-podcast-212-taking-down-the-big-dog/#respondMon, 15 Oct 2018 07:23:45 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4209The Johnnie-Tommie game definitely fits the bill of someone taking down the big dog, and so does WashU’s win vs. Wheaton. Both get a good amount of discussion, especially with the state of the CCIW standings and the D3football.com Top 25. Why isn’t WashU ranked? You’ll hear some of that in this podcast.

Plus, a reader question prompts a discussion of what separates the power teams in Division III from everyone else. Is it geography? Is it coaching? What were the most surprising results in Week 7? When does a chain of results become useless for trying to make out your Top 25 ballot? Which team saved itself from being cooked this week? And when will Earlham win a game?

That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.Full episode:

Photo: At two carries for minus-1 yard, Jaelin Goldsmith was Wheaton’s second-leading ballcarrier on Sunday at Washington U. (Photo by Linda Clement-Holmes Photography for Washington University athletics)

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/15/around-the-nation-podcast-212-taking-down-the-big-dog/feed/00:42:56The Johnnie-Tommie game definitely fits the bill of someone taking down the big dog, and so does WashU's win vs. Wheaton. Both get a good amount of discussion, especially with the state of the CCIW standings and the D3football.com Top 25. Why isn't [...]The Johnnie-Tommie game definitely fits the bill of someone taking down the big dog, and so does WashU's win vs. Wheaton. Both get a good amount of discussion, especially with the state of the CCIW standings and the D3football.com Top 25. Why isn't WashU ranked? You'll hear some of that in this podcast. Plus, a reader question prompts a discussion of what separates the power teams in Division III from everyone else. Is it geography? Is it coaching? What were the most surprising results in Week 7? When does a chain of results become useless for trying to make out your Top 25 ballot? And when will Earlham win a game? That and more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits Week 7: Eyes on the rivalry and the streakhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/12/quick-hits-week-7-eyes-on-the-rivalry-and-the-streak/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/12/quick-hits-week-7-eyes-on-the-rivalry-and-the-streak/#commentsFri, 12 Oct 2018 16:19:12 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4199In addition to the big game between St. Thomas and St. John’s, there are lots of other key games, including one at the other end of the rankings. That’s where Earlham, which has lost 49 consecutive games, faces Anderson. A win will keep Earlham from grabbing a share of the record for the longest Division III football losing streak, ever.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is James Baker, Frank Rossi’s co-host on In The Huddle. That’s the two of them staring at each other.

Adam’s take: No. The Quakers’ best chance will come on Nov. 3 against Defiance, after the record for futility has been broken.

Frank’s take: No. There really is a difference between being outscored 341-39 (Earlham) vs. 209-72 (Anderson).

James’ take: Nope. Sorry, Quakers.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/12/quick-hits-week-7-eyes-on-the-rivalry-and-the-streak/feed/2Around the Nation Podcast 211: The Tommie-Johnnie game, and morehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/12/around-the-nation-podcast-211-the-tommie-johnnie-game-and-more/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/12/around-the-nation-podcast-211-the-tommie-johnnie-game-and-more/#respondFri, 12 Oct 2018 05:12:50 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4195This weekend’s key games include one game for first place, and a bunch of games that could help determine who remains in the playoff hunt. And now, heading into Week 7, there’s just enough reason to begin to really talk about the playoffs. If you’re new to playoff consideration, we’ll give you a quick rundown of how the NCAA calculates and tabulates strength of schedule and where you can find the latest numbers.

This weekend we have the Tommie-Johnnie game, plus a key game in the WIAC and tough tests for playoff contenders in the Empire 8, OAC, MAC and for the one Centennial team which plays this week. Our guest on this week’s podcast is Redlands coach Mike Maynard, plus Pat and Keith and company preview the big games in Week 7.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/12/around-the-nation-podcast-211-the-tommie-johnnie-game-and-more/feed/00:51:23This weekend's key games include one game for first place, and a bunch of games that could help determine who remains in the playoff hunt. And now, heading into Week 7, there's just enough reason to begin to really talk about the playoffs. If you're[...]This weekend's key games include one game for first place, and a bunch of games that could help determine who remains in the playoff hunt. And now, heading into Week 7, there's just enough reason to begin to really talk about the playoffs. If you're new to playoff consideration, we'll give you a quick rundown of how the NCAA calculates and tabulates strength of schedule and where you can find the latest numbers. This weekend we have the Tommie-Johnnie game, plus a key game in the WIAC and tough tests for playoff contenders in the Empire 8, OAC, MAC and for the one Centennial team which plays this week. Our guest on this week's podcast is Redlands coach Mike Maynard, plus Pat and Keith and company preview the big games in Week 7. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 210: Who should be No. 1?http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/08/around-the-nation-podcast-210-who-should-be-no-1/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/08/around-the-nation-podcast-210-who-should-be-no-1/#respondMon, 08 Oct 2018 07:45:04 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4189A weekend of big games begged the question for D3football.com Top 25 voters as to which team should be No. 1. While there are 19 voters who picked Team Alliance Purple as No. 1, there are now six in Team Belton Purple’s camp. Are you of the mind that “the champ is the champ until they lose,” or are you more likely to favor whoever is playing better at the time? Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan lay out the arguments for Mount Union and for Mary Hardin-Baylor in this week’s podcast. (And just maybe someone might consider Team Purple St. Paul if the results work out.)

On Sunday, Pat Coleman and Adam Turer each got a chance to weigh in on the legacy of John Gagliardi, and Keith McMillan does as well. Plus, we give you the key takeaways from the top 10 shootout and the top 10 shutouts, and Pat talks to the team that snapped a 33-game losing streak. That, along with game balls and much more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/08/around-the-nation-podcast-210-who-should-be-no-1/feed/00:40:12A weekend of big games begged the question for D3football.com Top 25 voters as to which team should be No. 1. While there are 19 voters who picked Team Alliance Purple as No. 1, there are now six in Team Belton Purple's camp. Are you of the mind tha[...]A weekend of big games begged the question for D3football.com Top 25 voters as to which team should be No. 1. While there are 19 voters who picked Team Alliance Purple as No. 1, there are now six in Team Belton Purple's camp. Are you of the mind that "the champ is the champ until they lose," or are you more likely to favor whoever is playing better at the time? Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan lay out the arguments for Mount Union and for Mary Hardin-Baylor in this week's podcast. (And just maybe someone might consider Team Purple St. Paul if the results work out.)
On Sunday, Pat Coleman and Adam Turer each got a chance to weigh in on the legacy of John Gagliardi, and Keith McMillan does as well. Plus, we give you the key takeaways from the top 10 shootout and the top 10 shutouts, and Pat talks to the team that snapped a 33-game losing streak. That, along with game balls and much more in the latest D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.
The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Reaching the midway pointhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/05/quick-hits-reaching-the-midway-point/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/05/quick-hits-reaching-the-midway-point/#respondFri, 05 Oct 2018 16:39:10 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4173It’s hump week in Division III football: five weeks down, and five weeks remaining after this one. Does it feel like a Wednesday to you? If so, it can only be the best Wednesday ever! Here’s our crew’s predictions for Week 6.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Paul Schreel. Paul is an Ohio Northern grad and former Division III broadcaster now coaching high school football in Arizona.

Which game is the Week 6 game of the week?

Ryan’s take: No. 7 Hardin-Simmons at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor. This is my most-anticipated conference title bout every year, and neither team has disappointed this year.

Pat’s take: No. 5 Frostburg State at No. 6 Wesley. The first big battle in the NJAC, which might only have one big battle.

Adam’s take: No. 5 Frostburg State at No. 6 Wesley. A rivalry, in its final year, likely with the conference title at stake. Last year’s OT thriller will be topped.

Frank’s take: No. 5 Frostburg State at No. 6 Wesley. It’s the lowest combined ranking in an East Region matchup I can remember, and the stakes are major with just five Pool C bids available this year. I expect a low-scoring affair.

Paul’s take: No. 7 Hardin-Simmons at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor. With the No. 1 and No. 6 total offenses in Division III facing off, the first defense to force a punt could decide the game.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 9 St. John’s. There’s a Johnnies fan at work and he’s worried about quarterback Jaran Roste and the Royals.

Ryan’s take: No. 9 St. John’s. Bethel is having a resurgence this year and could catch the Johnnies looking ahead to the biggin on Oct. 13.

Pat’s take: No. 22 Whitworth. All the Top 25-on-Top 25 games mean qualifying upset opportunities are few. This pick relies on some overconfidence.

Frank’s take: No. 20 RPI. It wouldn’t be an upset on my ballot, because I’ve had Ithaca higher all season. Ithaca’s body of work thus far has been better. Home field helps Bombers win a close game.

Paul’s take: No. 22 Whitworth. A week after a tough win over Linfield, the Pirates will have their hands full traveling to George Fox.

Outside of the ‘big six,’ which Top 25 game will be the most interesting?

Keith’s take: Carthage at Illinois Wesleyan. Remember, Red Men gave UW-Oshkosh a run for its money.

Ryan’s take: No. 22 Whitworth at George Fox. Coming off last week’s win, I’m curious if Whitworth is that good or Linfield was that bad. This’ll help me sort that out.

Pat’s take: Chapman at Redlands. The last game of the night should be a good one, and the SCIAC automatic bid will likely go to the winner.

Adam’s take: No. 22 Whitworth at George Fox. The Bruins could make it two in a row over the Pirates and the NWC could enter Week 3 of conference play wide open.

Frank’s take: Willamette at No. 25 Linfield. Linfield should win big, but their performance so far places a lot in doubt. If Willamette keeps it close, I’d consider dropping Linfield out of my ballot entirely.

Paul’s take: No. 24 Muhlenberg at Ursinus. The Centennial Conference has four legitimate challengers for a title this year. The loser of this game is out of that conversation, though.

Which game are you following that nobody else on this panel is following?

Keith’s take: Alvernia at Misericordia. New and new-ish program have combined for four wins so far this season.

Ryan’s take: Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall. Two teams with a blemish and outside the T25, but I’m not ready to cast either to the curb just yet.

Pat’s take: Whittier at Occidental. Oxy did the right thing and gave Whittier The Shoes after Oxy failed to make the 2017 game. Could Whittier snap its 33-game skid and win them outright?

Adam’s take: Manchester at Mount St. Joseph. I’ll be there to see how these prolific offenses stack up against quality competition, which is not always on the opposite sideline in the HCAC.

Frank’s take: Norwich at Merchant Marine. I’ll be attending this game, as it’s a nearby matchup between two military service academies. If it’s anything like Norwich/Coast Guard two weeks ago, it will be a classic.

Paul’s take: Chapman at Redlands. It looks like the winner will be in the driver’s seat for a SCIAC title and the automatic playoff berth.

Keith’s take: Linfield. The 1-2 Wildcats chase a record 63rd consecutive winning season by winning at Willamette.

Ryan’s take: Southwestern. After a solid ASC debut in 2017, my expectations were a lot higher for the Pirates, and the next couple of games are winnable ones.

Pat’s take: Aurora. An 0-4 start, albeit against a slate of decent teams, is unexpected and the Spartans should bounce back.

Adam’s take: Albright (vs. Wilkes). The Lions have played a brutal schedule and have taken a beating. They could start a run to finish over .500 in their final five games.

Frank’s take: Buffalo State. With Alfred coming off a close game vs. Morrisville St., Buffalo State with their first win last week might have enough momentum to upset the Saxons in Buffalo.

Paul’s take: Cal Lutheran. The offense looked good last week against an overmatched Occidental but they will prove it wasn’t a fluke and go on a run in SCIAC play.

Pick an unranked unbeaten team which will lose (to an unranked team) this week?

Keith’s take: Albion. At Hope, which knocks off one of the three 4-0 MIAA teams.

Ryan’s take: Union. Granted, they’re not playing the Hobart of old, but this will still be a tough road for the Dutchmen.

Pat’s take: Albion. The Britons have done well this season and that includes a win vs. Franklin but Hope comes in well-tested in the first five weeks.

Adam’s take: Albion. Hope held a fourth quarter lead over Trine. The Flying Dutchmen regain momentum with a win over the unbeaten Britons.

Frank’s take: Amherst. Middlebury has bounced back from its opening loss, playing winning football as consistently as Amherst. The Panthers shock the Mammoths in Vermont.

Paul’s take: Salisbury. Christopher Newport hosts the Sea Gulls and could hand them their first loss of 2018.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/05/quick-hits-reaching-the-midway-point/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast 209: A big six for Week 6http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/05/around-the-nation-podcast-209-a-big-six-for-week-6/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/05/around-the-nation-podcast-209-a-big-six-for-week-6/#respondFri, 05 Oct 2018 07:23:41 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4181There are six huge games between ranked teams (or ranked teams and unbeaten teams) this week, and this is a week Pat will be on the road, as he is heading out to Los Angeles to see a pair of games involving evenly matched teams at each end of the SCIAC.

Plus, our guest this Friday is Marietta coach Andy Waddle. His team is one of the surprising 4-0 teams through five weeks, and he talks about what goes into the decision to go for a two-point conversion at the end of the game, even when it bucks the conventional wisdom. He talks about where his current running back, Tanner Clark, stacks up with some of his program greats, and we put him on the spot about the purple power that Marietta faces at the end of each season.

Pat and Keith also give us a quick overview of a half-dozen more games, and then they put each other on the spot. And this week, nobody has to rhyme their answers.

That and more on the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/05/around-the-nation-podcast-209-a-big-six-for-week-6/feed/00:52:19There are six huge games between ranked teams (or ranked teams and unbeaten teams) this week, and this is a week Pat will be on the road, as he is heading out to Los Angeles to see a pair of games involving evenly matched teams at each end of the SC[...]There are six huge games between ranked teams (or ranked teams and unbeaten teams) this week, and this is a week Pat will be on the road, as he is heading out to Los Angeles to see a pair of games involving evenly matched teams at each end of the SCIAC.
Big games abound: No. 7 Hardin-Simmons at No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor; No. 5 Frostburg State at No. 6 Wesley; No. 10 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 UW-Whitewater; No. 9 St. John’s at Bethel; No. 20 RPI at No. 23 Ithaca; and No. 19 Case Western Reserve at No. 12 Washington & Jefferson. We'll preview each of those.
Plus, our guest this Friday is Marietta coach Andy Waddle. His team is one of the surprising 4-0 teams through five weeks, and he talks about what goes into the decision to go for a two-point conversion at the end of the game, even when it bucks the conventional wisdom. He talks about where his current running back, Tanner Clark, stacks up with some of his program greats, and we put him on the spot about the purple power that Marietta faces at the end of each season.
Pat and Keith also give us a quick overview of a half-dozen more games, and then they put each other on the spot. And this week, nobody has to rhyme their answers.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 208: Going for 2http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/01/around-the-nation-podcast-208-going-for-2/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/01/around-the-nation-podcast-208-going-for-2/#respondMon, 01 Oct 2018 07:49:57 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4161We love a gutsy call. Sure, our job isn’t being put on the line when a coach makes the decision to go for two at the end of a key game, but this is Division III — the coach’s job isn’t really on the line on one play call. We love a little gamble, especially when it pays off. Whether you call a Philly Special (or something that looks similar but fools the broadcaster) or something else, rolling the dice and getting it makes for a great highlight. So, for Marietta and Simpson, which chose to go for two, or Wittenberg, which had no choice, it was a big Week 5, and Pat and Keith honor that by going for two with the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

That and more on the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

Photo: Video frame grab of Simpson’s two-point conversion to win the game. Note that this frame isn’t intended to try to show whether he got a foot down inbounds, but to show that the line judge is in a better position to make the call than any of us are.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/10/01/around-the-nation-podcast-208-going-for-2/feed/00:48:35We love a gutsy call. Sure, our job isn't being put on the line when a coach makes the decision to go for two at the end of a key game, but this is Division III -- the coach's job isn't really on the line on one play call. We love a little gamble, e[...]We love a gutsy call. Sure, our job isn't being put on the line when a coach makes the decision to go for two at the end of a key game, but this is Division III -- the coach's job isn't really on the line on one play call. We love a little gamble, especially when it pays off. Whether you call a Philly Special (or something that looks similar but fools the broadcaster) or something else, rolling the dice and getting it makes for a great highlight. So, for Marietta and Simpson, which chose to go for two, or Wittenberg, which had no choice, it was a big Week 5, and Pat and Keith honor that by going for two with the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.
Plus, the Little Brass Bell went back home with the team it came with, nobody was trapping Mary Hardin-Baylor or Hardin-Simmons, UW-Whitewater wore UW-La Crosse out and just maybe The Streak is in play this year. Teams mentioned: Denison, Wittenberg, Simpson, Wartburg, Marietta, Ohio Northern, Wheaton, North Central, Hardin-Simmons, Mary Hardin-Baylor, UW-La Crosse, UW-Whitewater, Linfield, Whitworth, Muhlenberg, Franklin & Marshall, St. Thomas, Concordia-Moorhead, Case Western Reserve, Illinois Wesleyan, Susquehanna, Dickinson, Greenville, Westminster (Mo.), Dubuque, Loras, Wisconsin Lutheran, Rockford, Methodist, Huntingdon, Wesley, Southern Virginia, Martin Luther, St. Scholastica, Brockport, St. John Fisher, Worcester State, Fitchburg State, Louisiana College, Sul Ross State, Millsaps, Husson, SUNY-Maritime, FDU-Florham, Misericordia, Dean, Finlandia, Olivet, Moravian, Gettysburg.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits Week 5: Quick hatshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/28/quick-hits-week-5-quick-hats/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/28/quick-hits-week-5-quick-hats/#respondFri, 28 Sep 2018 15:40:55 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4144Little Brass Bells will be ringing this week, in the eyes and ears of our panel. In a week of big games, that rivalry is the biggest for our panel.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Gordon Mann, longtime contributor to D3football.com and editor at D3hoops.com who also broadcasts football games for Delaware Valley.

— Pat Coleman

What’s the game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 21 Wheaton at No. 5 North Central. It’s a rivalry, there’s history, and if the Thunder win, a third team, Illinois Wesleyan, takes control of the CCIW.

Ryan’s take: No. 21 Wheaton at No. 5 North Central. The precedent is set. I can’t remember a year when this didn’t have major CCIW implications.

Pat’s take: No. 21 Wheaton at No. 5 North Central. It’s a bell, it’s made of brass, but it’s little so it kinda dings at a high pitch. Does an angel get its wings?

Adam’s take: No. 21 Wheaton at No. 5 North Central. This is the biggest test of the season for both teams and North Central’s best chance to prove itself as a worthy Stagg Bowl contender this year.

Frank’s take: No. 22 Delaware Valley at Stevenson. This game will help define the upper end of the MAC while providing the first test to the Aggies since Wesley.

Gordon’s take: No. 21 Wheaton at No. 5 North Central.This game shapes the CCIW race and part of the playoff bracket. The Thunder’s storm-aided victory last year ups the drama.

Adam’s take: Randolph-Macon at Washington & Lee. Not just because my alma mater is playing a huge conference game and its home opener. These two teams have had a combined 38-day layoff since their last game.

Frank’s take: Occidental at Cal Lutheran. The Kingsmen are surprisingly 1-2 right now. They should beat an undermanned Oxy, but it could be close.

Gordon’s take: Trinity at Williams.K-Mack loves him some NESCAC, but I have more personal interest in this one than others on the panel. Go Bants!

Which of the 49 winless teams leaves the field happy for the first time this season?

Keith’s take: Maryville, vs. Brevard. The Scots have scored just 9 points this season, but they’ve faced playoff-caliber teams in Berry and Centre.

Ryan’s take: Crown. It’s a pick of the winless teams as they face off against Iowa Wesleyan.

Pat’s take: Benedictine. Conference play begins in the NACC and CUW is a good starting point.

Adam’s take: Lakeland. The Muskies finally figure out their offense in the post-Michael Whitley world. The grueling non-conference slate pays off against Concordia-Chicago.

Frank’s take: Gallaudet. The Bison last played on Sept. 8. Anna Maria is averaging 7 points per game. Advantage to a rested Bison squad.

Gordon’s take: Illinois College. The Blueboys feel better after a home win over Beloit on Saturday night.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/28/quick-hits-week-5-quick-hats/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast 207: Fred’s backhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/28/around-the-nation-podcast-207-freds-back/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/28/around-the-nation-podcast-207-freds-back/#commentsFri, 28 Sep 2018 05:31:48 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4138While the rest of you were no doubt glued to C-SPAN or your news network of choice to watch a certain hearing of sorts from Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Pat and Keith were listening to a certain interview from Belton, Texas. That’s right, Mary Hardin-Baylor coach Pete Fredenburg is back, and there’s going to be trouble … potentially, for UMHB’s opponents. Fredenburg talks about what it was like being kept on the sidelines (and away from the sidelines), the team’s unexpected riches at the quarterback position, what’s the word on the young defense and more in this game day edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

Plus, the big games have big conference implications riding on them, including in the CCIW, the Centennial, the WIAC, the ODAC, the ECFC … you get the picture. Week 5 is shaping up to be a big one. Plus, one of the schools playing in one of the aforementioned conference’s big games changed offensive coordinators. What?

That and more on the Game Day version of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/28/around-the-nation-podcast-207-freds-back/feed/10:48:21While the rest of you were no doubt glued to C-SPAN or your news network of choice to watch a certain hearing of sorts from Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Pat and Keith were listening to a certain interview from Belton, Texas. That's right, Mary Hard[...]While the rest of you were no doubt glued to C-SPAN or your news network of choice to watch a certain hearing of sorts from Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Pat and Keith were listening to a certain interview from Belton, Texas. That's right, Mary Hardin-Baylor coach Pete Fredenburg is back, and there's going to be trouble ... potentially, for UMHB's opponents. Fredenburg talks about what it was like being kept on the sidelines (and away from the sidelines), the team's unexpected riches at the quarterback position, what's the word on the young defense and more in this game day edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. Plus, the big games have big conference implications riding on them, including in the CCIW, the Centennial, the WIAC, the ODAC, the ECFC ... you get the picture. Week 5 is shaping up to be a big one. Plus, one of the schools playing in one of the aforementioned conference's big games changed offensive coordinators. What? That and more on the Game Day version of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoAround the Nation Podcast 206: That one game was enough, but we still got morehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/24/around-the-nation-podcast-206-that-one-game-was-enough-but-we-still-got-more/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/24/around-the-nation-podcast-206-that-one-game-was-enough-but-we-still-got-more/#respondMon, 24 Sep 2018 08:23:03 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4133We could spend a lot of time talking about the Mount Union-John Carroll game, and all of its ramifications — so we’ll do that. For a while, for sure. But there were plenty of other games of note on Saturday in Week 4, so we’ll have plenty to talk about.

Off the beaten path, we have a team which scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to win. We have a team which rushed for minus-50 yards, and won. We talk about the fifth-down play which wasn’t really a fifth-down play. We replace divots — who replaces divots anymore? Who even has grass fields anymore? And how did one MIAC team try to keep its beatdown of an opponent in check.

But hey, more about Mount Union — why is this win important? And what do Pat and Keith think should happen to John Carroll in the poll? And who gets Keith’s game ball?

That and more on the Game Day version of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/24/around-the-nation-podcast-206-that-one-game-was-enough-but-we-still-got-more/feed/00:45:11We could spend a lot of time talking about the Mount Union-John Carroll game, and all of its ramifications -- so we'll do that. For a while, for sure. But there were plenty of other games of note on Saturday in Week 4, so we'll have plenty to talk a[...]We could spend a lot of time talking about the Mount Union-John Carroll game, and all of its ramifications -- so we'll do that. For a while, for sure. But there were plenty of other games of note on Saturday in Week 4, so we'll have plenty to talk about. Off the beaten path, we have a team which scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to win. We have a team which rushed for minus-50 yards, and won. We talk about the fifth-down play which wasn't really a fifth-down play. We replace divots -- who replaces divots anymore? Who even has grass fields anymore? And how did one MIAC team try to keep its beatdown of an opponent in check. But hey, more about Mount Union -- why is this win important? And what do Pat and Keith think should happen to John Carroll in the poll? And who gets Keith's game ball? That and more on the Game Day version of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits Week 4: Unleashing the Cougarshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/21/quick-hits-week-4-unleashing-the-cougars/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/21/quick-hits-week-4-unleashing-the-cougars/#respondFri, 21 Sep 2018 14:06:54 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4123The crew is picking the Cougars to make some noise this week, as well as the Colonels, while everyone has their eyes on the clash in the OAC. Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Greg Thomas, Wabash fan and regular D3football.com contributor.

Greg’s take: Carthage at Washington U. After a respectable CCIW debut against North Central, I’m curious to see if the Bears can get a league win against a team that took UW-Oshkosh to the wire.

Neither Kean nor Minnesota-Morris has scored this season. Who will score more this week?

Keith’s take: Minnesota-Morris. It’s a coin flip. Both Cougars offenses might get right against an 0-3 opponent this week.

Ryan’s take: Kean. The Cougars’ first two opponents were much tougher than Southern Virginia will prove to be.

Pat’s take: Kean. I wrote this question to have no easy answer and then spent way too long trying to pick a set of Cougars.

Adam’s take: Kean. Southern Virginia is 0-3 and has allowed 27.3 ppg. The Cougars will finally get on the scoreboard and maybe even the win column.

Frank’s take: Kean. But this may be by a whisker, with both playing winless teams.

Greg’s take: Kean. This question is for the really serious D-III die-hards.

Which unlikely 3-0 team falls to 3-1 this week?

Keith’s take: Millsaps. Against 2-1 Sewanee. Even the “surprise” 3-0 teams (Marietta, Kalamazoo, St. Olaf) weren’t “unlikely,” so it was either this or Rowan.

Ryan’s take: Rowan. Against a ranked team like Frostburg, the Profs will fall.

Pat’s take: Marietta. The stadium might not be underwater but ONU will slow right by the Pioneers.

Adam’s take: Rowan. The Profs have to face No. 6 Frostburg State on the road. The Bobcats will be hungry to get back to dominating opponents.

Frank’s take: Ursinus. After Moravian was side-swiped by Johns Hopkins, the Greyhounds will race circles around Ursinus on Saturday.

Greg’s take: FDU-Florham. A surprise leader of the MAC, the Devils’ bid to go 4-0 for the first time since 1988 (yes I did Google that) gets denied by Lycoming.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/21/quick-hits-week-4-unleashing-the-cougars/feed/0ATN Podcast 205: Something unexpected in Week 4http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/21/atn-podcast-205-something-unexpected-in-week-4/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/21/atn-podcast-205-something-unexpected-in-week-4/#commentsFri, 21 Sep 2018 05:26:47 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4119There could be even more blowouts than usual in the Week 4 Top 25 schedule, so we’re hoping for perhaps a couple of surprises, as well as a great showdown between No. 1 Mount Union and No. 15 John Carroll. Otherwise, the games this week could include a lot of blowouts.

So, our correspondents have focused on some great matchups in the middle of conference races, or games that could shape conferences after surprising opening weeks. Keith looks at who will win games in HCAC play, while Pat is asked about whether games will remain close.

Plus, we talk with Kean coach Dan Garrett. He took the Cougars on a two-game opening of the season that resulted in some struggles on defense, and no points on the scoreboard. Why did he schedule the non-conference game he scheduled? Garrett is quite frank about it, and gives good insights into scheduling, as well as motivation and more.

Meanwhile, Pat and Keith preview the big games, plus a random game, and talk about exercise. That and more on the Game Day version of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/21/atn-podcast-205-something-unexpected-in-week-4/feed/10:49:33There could be even more blowouts than usual in the Week 4 Top 25 schedule, so we're hoping for perhaps a couple of surprises, as well as a great showdown between No. 1 Mount Union and No. 15 John Carroll. Otherwise, the games this week could includ[...]There could be even more blowouts than usual in the Week 4 Top 25 schedule, so we're hoping for perhaps a couple of surprises, as well as a great showdown between No. 1 Mount Union and No. 15 John Carroll. Otherwise, the games this week could include a lot of blowouts. So, our correspondents have focused on some great matchups in the middle of conference races, or games that could shape conferences after surprising opening weeks. Keith looks at who will win games in HCAC play, while Pat is asked about whether games will remain close. Plus, we talk with Kean coach Dan Garrett. He took the Cougars on a two-game opening of the season that resulted in some struggles on defense, and no points on the scoreboard. Why did he schedule the non-conference game he scheduled? Garrett is quite frank about it, and gives good insights into scheduling, as well as motivation and more. Meanwhile, Pat and Keith preview the big games, plus a random game, and talk about exercise. That and more on the Game Day version of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 204: Now that was surprisinghttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/17/atn-podcast-204-now-that-was-surprising/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/17/atn-podcast-204-now-that-was-surprising/#respondMon, 17 Sep 2018 07:49:49 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4113It was a surprising win for Misericordia, a surprising comeback for Thomas More. There were some great defensive performances and there was some good kicking as well. Yes, we can give a kicker or two a game ball, right? And we’ve been talking about this rant by Widener coach Mike Kelly, which came before his team lost in Misericordia’s sixth win ever, so we’ll really get down to it. We also hear from Thomas More coach Trevor Stellman about his team’s rally vs. UW-Platteville.

And with that, most of Division III’s non-conference play is over. Columnist Adam Turer will rank all of the conferences a little later in the season, but Pat and Keith take a look at which conferences are the big winners and which are on the other end after non-conference play.

Meanwhile, some teams have friends in low places, others get knocked down but get back up again, and it’s all good on the Week 3 Monday D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/17/atn-podcast-204-now-that-was-surprising/feed/00:37:20It was a surprising win for Misericordia, a surprising comeback for Thomas More. There were some great defensive performances and there was some good kicking as well. Yes, we can give a kicker or two a game ball, right? And we've been talking about [...]It was a surprising win for Misericordia, a surprising comeback for Thomas More. There were some great defensive performances and there was some good kicking as well. Yes, we can give a kicker or two a game ball, right? And we've been talking about this rant by Widener coach Mike Kelly, which came before his team lost in Misericordia's sixth win ever, so we'll really get down to it. And with that, most of Division III's non-conference play is over. Columnist Adam Turer will rank all of the conferences a little later in the season, but Pat and Keith take a look at which conferences are the big winners and which are on the other end after non-conference play. Meanwhile, some teams have friends in low places, others get knocked down but get back up again, and it's all good on the Week 3 Monday D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits Week 3: Please stayhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/quick-hits-week-3-please-stay/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/quick-hits-week-3-please-stay/#respondFri, 14 Sep 2018 17:11:27 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4105It’s been such a long week in Division III football, but game day is finally here. (Apologies to Guilford, Catholic and Randolph-Macon.) Our regular crew for picking games is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is broadcaster and longtime friend of the site John McGraw, who is broadcasting Hamilton football this weekend.

The sixth question is intentionally left blank in memory of Evan Hansen.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/quick-hits-week-3-please-stay/feed/0ATN Podcast 203: Feeling the heat in Week 3http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/atn-podcast-203-feeling-the-heat-in-week-3/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/atn-podcast-203-feeling-the-heat-in-week-3/#respondFri, 14 Sep 2018 05:08:41 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4098There’s rain going on in the southern Mid-Atlantic Region, and that has cancelled games, postponed games and forced games to move up. But there’s also a discussion about heat and humidity in one conference, and that is forcing games to move as well.

This year, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference instituted a heat and humidity policy which is affecting some games this weekend. It’s favored by the athletic trainers, perhaps grudgingly accepted by coaches and … well, fans aren’t fans. But the MIAC commissioner, Dan McKane, joins us to discuss the issue. Since our interview, three more MIAC games had their game times changed, and one of those required a change in venue.

Meanwhile, our featured interview for this podcast is Tom Journell, the Carleton head coach who came to the school this season, having been a head coach at UW-Stevens Point and Elmhurst. He followed his son, who is a standout wide receiver for Carleton, and talks with us about the challenges of recruiting to one of the nation’s elite liberal arts colleges, learning all the new fight songs and what it’s like when sprinklers interrupt your game. Plus, we get you around the nation to all of the weekend’s big games. It’s Game Day for Division III football!

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/14/atn-podcast-203-feeling-the-heat-in-week-3/feed/00:50:45There's rain going on in the southern Mid-Atlantic Region, and that has cancelled games, postponed games and forced games to move up. But there's also a discussion about heat and humidity in one conference, and that is forcing games to move as well.[...]There's rain going on in the southern Mid-Atlantic Region, and that has cancelled games, postponed games and forced games to move up. But there's also a discussion about heat and humidity in one conference, and that is forcing games to move as well.
This year, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference instituted a heat and humidity policy which is affecting some games this weekend. It's favored by the athletic trainers, perhaps grudgingly accepted by coaches and ... well, fans aren't fans. But the MIAC commissioner, Dan McKane, joins us to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, our featured interview for this podcast is Tom Journell, the Carleton head coach who came to the school this season, having been a head coach at UW-Stevens Point and Elmhurst. He followed his son, who is a standout wide receiver for Carleton, and talks with us about the challenges of recruiting to one of the nation's elite liberal arts colleges, learning all the new fight songs and what it's like when sprinklers interrupt your game. Plus, we get you around the nation to all of the weekend's big games. It's Game Day for Division III football!GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 202: It’s a strugglehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/10/atn-podcast-202-struggle/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/10/atn-podcast-202-struggle/#commentsMon, 10 Sep 2018 06:55:20 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4095It was a struggle for UW-Oshkosh to get anything going on offense on Saturday, and in light of that, it’s a struggle for Top 25 voters. What do you do with a team which lost to a Division II opponent, but a D-II opponent which is only in its third year of football?

We also hear from the interim head coach of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and the Cru’s leading rusher from Saturday, a game in which nobody for UMHB struggled in a 91-7 win. Plus Pat and Keith hand out game balls, pick their off-the-beaten-path highlight, the risers and fallers in the Top 25 and much more.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/10/atn-podcast-202-struggle/feed/20:42:34It was a struggle for UW-Oshkosh to get anything going on offense on Saturday, and in light of that, it's a struggle for Top 25 voters. What do you do with a team which lost to a Division II opponent, but a D-II opponent which is only in its third y[...]It was a struggle for UW-Oshkosh to get anything going on offense on Saturday, and in light of that, it's a struggle for Top 25 voters. What do you do with a team which lost to a Division II opponent, but a D-II opponent which is only in its third year of football? We also hear from the interim head coach of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and the Cru's leading rusher from Saturday, a game in which nobody for UMHB struggled in a 91-7 win. Plus Pat and Keith hand out game balls, pick their off-the-beaten-path highlight, the risers and fallers in the Top 25, why the sprinklers went off (probably) at Carleton and much more. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Welcome to the seasonhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/07/quick-hits-welcome-to-the-season/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/07/quick-hits-welcome-to-the-season/#respondFri, 07 Sep 2018 15:49:55 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4076Thirty-one teams didn’t start their season with the rest of us last week, and while 10 of those are from the NESCAC and would just never play in Week 1 and one was Occidental, which played a game against a Mexican team, basically the rest are getting on the field this week for the first time.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Ryan Carlson, former defensive end at Linfield, producer of any awesome Linfield football video you’ve seen in the past decade or so, and 2018 inductee into the school’s hall of fame.

— Pat Coleman

Which game is Week 2’s game of the week?

Keith’s take: Concordia-Moorhead at No. 12 UW-Whitewater. Both are in the top 18 on my ballot.

Ryan’s take: UW-La Crosse at No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan. I think a lot of people are curious about how good UW-L is.

Pat’s take: No. 10 Hardin-Simmons at Trinity (Texas). Trinity pounded McMurry last week, but this is the much more difficult Abilene opponent.

Adam’s take: Concordia-Moorhead at UWW. The Warhawks looked like the UWW of old in Week 1 and have a prove-it game in Week 2.

Frank’s take: Concordia-Moorhead at UWW. The Cobbers have remained a consistent team over the last six years and can play UWW with a “nothing to lose” approach.

Ryan’s take: Concordia-Moorhead at UWW. I was going to pick Macalester at Hamline just to give my guy Adam Johnson a thrill but that might hurt my “tremendous” amount of credibility.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to be upset?

Keith’s take: No. 18 Johns Hopkins. Susquehanna led by 10 at the start of the fourth last year, and is at home this time.

Pat’s take: No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan. This is one spot where the preseason poll and my ballot diverge fairly significantly.

Adam’s take: No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan. UW-La Crosse is determined to keep its momentum from 2017 going, and a non-conference win over a ranked opponent on the road would be the next step.

Frank’s take: No. 24 RPI. RPI struggled early against Allegheny, and with the Transit Trophy on the line, WPI could surprise some folks.

Ryan’s take: No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan. However, UWO is playing a second year D-II and had some struggles last weekend but would losing to a D-II really be called an upset?

Which team making its debut in Week 2 will wish it had a game under its belt?

Keith’s take: Kean. Springfield rushed for 445 yards last week, although maybe the Cougars have had an extra week to drill triple option.

Ryan’s take: DePauw. At least they don’t have to go on the road to play Central.

Pat’s take: William Paterson. What might have seemed like an achievable game in Dustin Johnson’s coaching debut changed when FDU beat TCNJ.

Adam’s take: Texas Lutheran. Opening the season against Hendrix QB Miles Thompson is no easy task. Last year, Thompson carved up the Bulldogs for 433 yards and four TDs.

Frank’s take: Kean. Springfield got its offense humming in Week 1, meaning the Kean defense will have a tough task right of the bat.

Ryan’s take: Linfield. I fully believe that Linfield is going to go out to Carroll College and win, but the Saints already have two games in. That just makes the challenge that much greater.

Which game are you following that nobody else on this panel is following?

Keith’s take: Hope at Defiance. In this dictionary-words matchup, eager to see step Matsakis’ (hired July 26) Yellow Jackets take after rough first week.

Ryan’s take: Hendrix at Texas Lutheran. A good one between teams legitimately eyeing conference titles.

Pat’s take: Lawrence at Carleton. I’ll be spending another Saturday off the beaten path, but I love all of D-III.

Adam’s take: No. 7 North Central at Lake Forest. Because I’ll be there in person to see how these two teams are replacing production of their respective 2017 all-conference running backs.

Frank’s take: Union at Coast Guard. Both teams were supposed to beat their Maine opponents last week. We’ll learn a lot about both as this game could go either way.

Ryan’s take: Macalester … naw, Pacific Lutheran at Cal Lutheran. This the Lutes’ first game without a Westering as head coach since 1971. I just want to know if PLU is still going to do their ridiculous pregame warmup.

Who will bounce back from a Week 1 blowout and win?

Keith’s take: Guilford. I like the Quakers hosting Methodist; oh wait, that Week 1 game never happened.

Ryan’s take: Allegheny. The Gators’ turnaround begins Saturday.

Pat’s take: Stevenson. I’m not sure that the Mustangs are MAC contenders but I like their chances vs. Bridgewater.

Adam’s take: Rose-Hulman. The Fightin’ Engineers took a 54-0 beating from the defending champs. A home game against Rhodes is a lot different than a road game against Mount Union.

Frank’s take: Hobart. Hobart didn’t quit against Brockport in a lopsided affair. I think that spirit will lend to a victory vs. a decent Morrisville State team.

Ryan’s take: Delaware Valley.The Aggies should take care of business against Mass-Dartmouth but the Corsairs have a linebacker named Tony Slaughter and that is outstanding.

Which team will surprisingly be 2-0 after Saturday?

Keith’s take: Lawrence. Rekindling a rivalry with Carleton, Vikings have a chance for first 2-0 start since, well, farther than our site goes back (1998).

Ryan’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. Poised for another after already taking down Thomas More.

Pat’s take: Sewanee. Yes, this means this is a bit of an upset pick as well.

Adam’s take: SUNY-Maritime. The Privateers had a very late coaching change this summer, but appear to be picking up where they left off after a nine-win 2017 season.

Frank’s take: FDU-Florham. The Devils won 12 games in the prior seven seasons. A 2-0 start will be a unique position for them.

Ryan’s take: Macalester.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Fridays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/07/quick-hits-welcome-to-the-season/feed/0ATN Podcast 201: Big names take the fieldhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/07/atn-podcast-201-big-names-take-the-field/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/07/atn-podcast-201-big-names-take-the-field/#respondFri, 07 Sep 2018 04:48:34 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4085Week 2 is here, and Pat and Keith are ready to tackle it. It starts with three Top 10 teams who are taking the field for the first time this season, and for one in particular, No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor, there are some new faces, some missing faces and some big questions. If you didn’t read the news in the offseason, you’ll want to listen to this podcast to get caught up with last year’s runner-up.

No. 6 Linfield plays its first game this week, as does No. 10 Hardin-Simmons, and Keith puts Pat on the spot about those three team. Meanwhile, the guys run down six key games, give six one-line previews of other games and they allow fate to pick one more to preview.

Also, Pat talks with Millikin coach Dan Gritti about his team’s Week 1 performance, his team’s hopes for the rest of the season and whether the CCIW is really as good as advertised. That and more on our Week 2 preview podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

Bonus content: This is what the Transit Trophy looks like (WPI athletics file photo).

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/07/atn-podcast-201-big-names-take-the-field/feed/00:41:30Week 2 is here, and Pat and Keith are ready to tackle it. It starts with three Top 10 teams who are taking the field for the first time this season, and for one in particular, No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor, there are some new faces, some missing faces an[...]Week 2 is here, and Pat and Keith are ready to tackle it. It starts with three Top 10 teams who are taking the field for the first time this season, and for one in particular, No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor, there are some new faces, some missing faces and some big questions. If you didn't read the news in the offseason, you'll want to listen to this podcast to get caught up with last year's runner-up.
No. 6 Linfield plays its first game this week, as does No. 10 Hardin-Simmons, and Keith puts Pat on the spot about those three team. Meanwhile, the guys run down six key games, give six one-line previews of other games and they allow fate to pick one more to preview.
Also, Pat talks with Millikin coach Dan Gritti about his team's Week 1 performance, his team's hopes for the rest of the season and whether the CCIW is really as good as advertised. That and more on our Week 2 preview podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 200: What people don’t want to admithttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/03/atn-podcast-200-what-people-dont-want-to-admit/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/03/atn-podcast-200-what-people-dont-want-to-admit/#respondMon, 03 Sep 2018 05:57:50 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4072We are getting back into the flow in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. This is the 200th edition of this podcast, entering its 12th season, and Pat and Keith use it to run down the Week 1 games. Plus, we use it as a way to get into talking about a couple of uncomfortable subjects — there are two possibilities about the 2018 season that people seem afraid to admit, and Pat and Keith attack them head-on.

D3football.com staffer Gordon Mann was at Wesley’s opener and talked with Chip Knapp afterward. Pat saw four games this weekend (no, really) and talks about his trip, plus talks with a player who picked off three passes. In all, the guys hand out their game balls, talk about the teams rising and falling in the poll, find highlights off the beaten path and pick out the big numbers of the week. Plus, what happened this weekend that could make the podcast go channel Allen Iverson?

That and more on our Week 1 Monday podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/09/03/atn-podcast-200-what-people-dont-want-to-admit/feed/00:42:46We are getting back into the flow in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. This is the 200th edition of this podcast, entering its 12th season, and Pat and Keith use it to run down the Week 1 games. Plus, we use it as a way to get into talki[...]We are getting back into the flow in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. This is the 200th edition of this podcast, entering its 12th season, and Pat and Keith use it to run down the Week 1 games. Plus, we use it as a way to get into talking about a couple of uncomfortable subjects -- there are two possibilities about the 2018 season that people seem afraid to admit, and Pat and Keith attack them head-on. D3football.com staffer Gordon Mann was at Wesley's opener and talked with Chip Knapp afterward. Pat saw four games this weekend (no, really) and talks about his trip, plus talks with a player who picked off three passes. In all, the guys hand out their game balls, talk about the teams rising and falling in the poll, find highlights off the beaten path and pick out the big numbers of the week. Plus, what happened this weekend that could make the podcast go channel Allen Iverson?GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Welcome to 2018http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/08/30/quick-hits-welcome-to-2018/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/08/30/quick-hits-welcome-to-2018/#commentsThu, 30 Aug 2018 13:05:35 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4057Quick Hits returns for the 2018 season! If you’re new to Division III football or D3football.com, this is our weekly predictions page. We assemble a crew of a half-dozen Division III football writers and observers and give you the best take on what the best games are, which ranked team is most likely to get upset, and a variety of other categories. Six six-packs of opinions ought to cover you!

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Ryan’s take: No. 15 Washington and Jefferson. St. John Fisher is poised to sneak up on some folks after a dismal 2017.

Pat’s take: No. 14 Wittenberg, by Westminster (Pa.). Wittenberg wants this credit for playing this opponent; I’m not penciling in a W.

Adam’s take: No. 19 Johns Hopkins. Randolph-Macon returns a ton of starters. Plus, I had a dream this week that R-MC won this game.

Frank’s take: No. 15 Washington and Jefferson. Fisher wants to rebound, and what better way than at home against a W&J team that might underestimate them.

Kevin’s take: None. The closest game will be W&J at St. John Fisher.

Which game are you watching that nobody else on this panel is following?

Keith’s take: Adrian at Ohio Northern. The Emmanuel Stewart feature in Kickoff ’18 has me eyeing this game with interest.

Ryan’s take: Emory & Henry at Ferrum. My wife’s alma mater gets new life as an ODAC member, plus this is a big rivalry game.

Pat’s take: Anderson at North Park. In this case, literally, as the last game of four I’ll see this week.

Adam’s take: George Fox at Redlands. Because I’ll be driving back from the beach all day and won’t be able to watch anything earlier.

Frank’s take: Western New England at Springfield. The Pynchon SAW game between two 2017 conference champs with some major losses to graduation will prove to be an interesting opener.

Kevin’s take: George Fox at Redlands. In a game between teams forecasted to each win 7 games it’s a matchup of defense (George Fox) vs efficient QB and Redlands offense.

Which new program has the better debut?

Keith’s take: Alvernia, with a home opener, against a program that’s won seven games the past four seasons.

Ryan’s take: Alvernia. Opponent Gallaudet has yet to break out of a five-year slump.

Pat’s take: Alvernia. Not enough to win but enough to get a little confidence early on.

Adam’s take: Alvernia. The Golden Wolves have a home game, plus two more days of preparation than University of New England.

Frank’s take: Alvernia. The Golden Wolves are hosting a team that struggled in 2017, setting them up for a chance for a big crowd and a potential win.

Kevin’s take: Alvernia. With nine QBs and 13 RBs among their numbers, the Golden Wolves will be athletic.

Who has a long, disappointing trip home?

Keith’s take: La Verne could be competitive at Whitworth, but it’s a trek back to SoCal from Spokane.

Ryan’s take: Denison. Opponent Southwestern is going to be particularly tough this season.

Pat’s take: Husson. It’s a long trip from Husson to anywhere, including back to Maine after a loss at Union.

Adam’s take: Denison. Southwestern returns the favor to the Big Red in year two of this rare Ohio-Texas matchup.

Frank’s take: Husson. With graduation of John Smith, the ultimate difference maker last year, Husson may see their regular season winning streak snapped.

Kevin’s take: Sounds like John Carroll could be a candidate based upon the Case Western Reserve scrimmage.

Whose head coaching debut are you most interested in?

Keith’s take: WNE’s Jason LeBeau gets a challenge from a rival coming off a 10-win season in his head-coaching debut.

Ryan’s take: Trevor Stellman at Thomas More. Will be interested from Week 1 through their final days in D-III.

Pat’s take: Defiance’s Manny Matsakis. Having only just met his team when camp started, this is a challenge.

Adam’s take: Garrett LeRose. My former teammate is now the head coach of our alma mater (W&L). I’m proud and excited to see what he accomplishes.

Frank’s take: Chad Martinovich at University of Rochester. He left academic-minded MIT for academic-minded U of R. Can he turn them around like MIT, starting with a tough Case?

Kevin’s take: Trevor Stellman, Thomas More. Are the Saints good enough to play spoiler on their way to Pool B during their D3 curtain call?

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Monday Around the Nation podcast to wrap up the week that was, and the Friday Around the Nation podcast, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/08/30/quick-hits-welcome-to-2018/feed/1ATN Podcast 199: What’s coming in Week 1http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/08/29/atn-podcast-199-whats-coming-in-week-1/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/08/29/atn-podcast-199-whats-coming-in-week-1/#respondWed, 29 Aug 2018 04:28:56 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4051Pat and Keith open the August podcast with some really big news about the future of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. It’s probably considered good news for people who like the podcast, but we won’t spoil it here in the description.

The guys get us all ready for Week 1 with a look at the biggest half-dozen games coming up this weekend, with games starting Thursday night. Plus, Pat and Keith put each other on the spot, and the random number generator is put into play to give the guys one more game to talk about, with no prep time allotted.

That and more on the August 2018 podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/08/29/atn-podcast-199-whats-coming-in-week-1/feed/00:41:15Pat and Keith open the August podcast with some really big news about the future of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. It's probably considered good news for people who like the podcast, but we won't spoil it here in the description. The [...]Pat and Keith open the August podcast with some really big news about the future of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. It's probably considered good news for people who like the podcast, but we won't spoil it here in the description. The guys get us all ready for Week 1 with a look at the biggest half-dozen games coming up this weekend, with games starting Thursday night. Plus, Pat and Keith put each other on the spot, and the random number generator is put into play to give the guys one more game to talk about, with no prep time allotted. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 198: Trying to break throughhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/07/29/trying-break-through/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/07/29/trying-break-through/#respondMon, 30 Jul 2018 03:46:38 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4045This is really the end of the offseason, right here. Kickoff is out in a week-plus and training camps open at the same time. Coaches are taking the last days off until November, and we’re talking with them about their plans for this season.

Our guests this month are from programs trying to break through into the upper echelons of really tough conferences. Matt Walker, coach of UW-River Falls, has seen the Falcons’ reboot take seven years so far, and he shares some pretty honest thoughts about how long it’s taken. He also talks about his sudden and unexplained departure from DePauw all those years ago.

We’re also joined by Joe Austin, the coach at Southwestern, whose program is entering its sixth season. The Pirates have moved from the SCAC to the American Southwest Conference, and hardly missed a beat last year. What’s it like recruiting in the shadow of Mary Hardin-Baylor? The answer isn’t what you’d expect.

That and more on the July 2018 podcast. The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/07/29/trying-break-through/feed/01:13:57This is really the end of the offseason, right here. Kickoff is out in a week-plus and training camps open at the same time. Coaches are taking the last days off until November, and we're talking with them about their plans for this season. Our gues[...]This is really the end of the offseason, right here. Kickoff is out in a week-plus and training camps open at the same time. Coaches are taking the last days off until November, and we're talking with them about their plans for this season. Our guests this month are from programs trying to break through into the upper echelons of really tough conferences. Matt Walker, coach of UW-River Falls, has seen the Falcons' reboot take seven years so far, and he shares some pretty honest thoughts about how long it's taken. He also talks about his sudden and unexplained departure from DePauw all those years ago. We're also joined by Joe Austin, the coach at Southwestern, whose program is entering its sixth season. The Pirates have moved from the SCAC to the American Southwest Conference, and hardly missed a beat last year. What's it like recruiting in the shadow of Mary Hardin-Baylor? The answer isn't what you'd expect. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 197: Getting through the dog dayshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/06/30/atn-podcast-197-getting-through-the-dog-days/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/06/30/atn-podcast-197-getting-through-the-dog-days/#commentsSat, 30 Jun 2018 05:29:11 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4040The month of June is the last month of serious offseason. By the time we get to the end of July, our Top 25 and preseason All-America teams are out and you can throw away those magazines that give you one page of D-III content and render our division 99% invisible.

As Pat and Keith work on Kickoff, there’s attention given to all 250 teams, whether you’re No. 1, No. 26, No. 138 or down near the bottom end. This month’s podcast talks about the Kickoff features, plus Pat and Keith’s take on how to put together a preseason Top 25 that makes a little more sense than one you might read in a D-I mag.

In addition, we talk with Chip Knapp, who has the unenviable task of following a friend as head coach at Wesley. Along with the tragic way in which he got the job, he also inherited a new workload and has to hire a new defensive coordinator at a pretty late date. Plus we chat with Jim Barnes, former Wooster and Augustana coach, who is helping Division III teams travel the world on overseas tours with American Football Worldwide. That and more on the June 2018 podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/06/30/atn-podcast-197-getting-through-the-dog-days/feed/21:03:43The month of June is the last month of serious offseason. By the time we get to the end of July, our Top 25 and preseason All-America teams are out and you can throw away those magazines that give you one page of D-III content and render our divisio[...]The month of June is the last month of serious offseason. By the time we get to the end of July, our Top 25 and preseason All-America teams are out and you can throw away those magazines that give you one page of D-III content and render our division 99% invisible. This month's podcast talks about the Kickoff features, plus Pat and Keith's take on how to put together a preseason Top 25 that makes a little more sense than one you might read in a D-I mag. In addition, we talk with Chip Knapp, who has the unenviable task of following a friend as head coach at Wesley. Along with the tragic way in which he got the job, he also inherited a new workload and has to hire a new defensive coordinator at a pretty late date. Plus we chat with Jim Barnes, former Wooster and Augustana coach, who is helping Division III teams travel the world on overseas tours with American Football Worldwide.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 196: Remembering Mike Drasshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/05/15/atn-podcast-196-remembering-mike-drass/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/05/15/atn-podcast-196-remembering-mike-drass/#commentsTue, 15 May 2018 05:41:47 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4033It was shocking to hear the news come out on Monday afternoon that Wesley football coach Mike Drass, just 57 years old, had died. And while Pat and Keith add their condolences to the outpouring of well-wishes for the Wesley football family and the Drass family, there’s a big legacy of Mike Drass’s to talk about. Hear from two-time D3football.com All-American receiver Larry Beavers, who tells how Drass helped get him back on track after he struggled and failed out of school, plus broadcaster Sean Greene, who has covered the Wolverines for years, joins the crew to talk about Drass and his impact.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/05/15/atn-podcast-196-remembering-mike-drass/feed/10:32:29It was shocking to hear the news come out on Monday afternoon that Wesley football coach Mike Drass, just 57 years old, had died. And while Pat and Keith add their condolences to the outpouring of well-wishes for the Wesley football family and the D[...]It was shocking to hear the news come out on Monday afternoon that Wesley football coach Mike Drass, just 57 years old, had died. And while Pat and Keith add their condolences to the outpouring of well-wishes for the Wesley football family and the Drass family, there's a big legacy of Mike Drass's to talk about. Hear from two-time D3football.com All-American receiver Larry Beavers, who tells how Drass helped get him back on track after he struggled and failed out of school, plus broadcaster Sean Greene, who has covered the Wolverines for years, joins the crew to talk about Drass and his impact. GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 195: Face to facehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/05/14/atn-podcast-195-face-to-face/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/05/14/atn-podcast-195-face-to-face/#respondMon, 14 May 2018 17:16:43 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4029With Pat Coleman in the midwest and Keith McMillan on the east coast, our podcasters don’t often have the opportunity to meet in person and record an interview, let alone an entire podcast, but that’s what happened this time. As Pat traveled across the country in May, he chatted with Illinois Wesleyan coach Norm Eash and Westminster (Pa.) coach Scott Benzel, and then Pat and Keith met in Washington, D.C., where they both chatted with Catholic U. coach Mike Gutelius. They then barricaded themselves in his office to finish the rest of the recording.

This month’s podcast is about keeping alumni connected to the program, and how older alumni can do that even when the traditions and stadium and coach have changed. Plus, Eash talks about the values of an overseas trip for a team, as well as a destination coaches should consider. Later on, Pat tells what he knows about the suspension of Pete Fredenburg. That and more on the May 2018 podcast.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/05/14/atn-podcast-195-face-to-face/feed/01:18:01With Pat Coleman in the midwest and Keith McMillan on the east coast, our podcasters don't often have the opportunity to meet in person and record an interview, let alone an entire podcast, but that's what happened this time. As Pat traveled across [...]With Pat Coleman in the midwest and Keith McMillan on the east coast, our podcasters don't often have the opportunity to meet in person and record an interview, let alone an entire podcast, but that's what happened this time. As Pat traveled across the country in May, he chatted with Illinois Wesleyan coach Norm Eash and Westminster (Pa.) coach Scott Benzel, and then Pat and Keith met in Washington, D.C., where they both chatted with Catholic U. coach Mike Gutelius. They then barricaded themselves in his office to finish the rest of the recording.
This month's podcast is about keeping alumni connected to the program, and how older alumni can do that even when the traditions and stadium and coach have changed. Plus, Eash talks about the values of an overseas trip for a team, as well as a destination coaches should consider. That and more on the May 2018 podcast.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 194: Beating the oddshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/04/20/atn-podcast-194-beating-the-odds/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/04/20/atn-podcast-194-beating-the-odds/#respondFri, 20 Apr 2018 06:27:43 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4022At the end of an April with a lot of Division III football news, we’re hoping for some even bigger news — an NFL draft pick. Those don’t come every year in D-III, but Wesley offensive lineman Matthew Gono is a prime candidate and we sit down with him to hear about the prospect process and his Draft Day plans on the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

Franklin & Marshall is trying to buck the trend as well, as the Diplomats have their sights on knocking off Johns Hopkins in the Centennial. The Dips have a new stadium at their disposal as well, and coach John Troxell talks about the process that went into Shadek Stadium and how important a previous coach’s players was in making that happen. But Occidental has the biggest odds to overcome, it seems, with the Tigers trying to rally after playing three games last season and essentially getting a $280,000 fundraising tab it has to pay up from its administration.

Plus, there’s the two pieces of big news involving Mary Hardin-Baylor, one of which also involves Mount Union. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan talk about the NCAA violation UMHB reported, plus the impact a new QB will have on the Cru. Will more schools jump to the NAIA? That and more on the April 2018 podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/04/20/atn-podcast-194-beating-the-odds/feed/01:10:51At the end of an April with a lot of Division III news, we're hoping for some even bigger news -- an NFL draft pick. Those don't come every year in D-III, but Wesley offensive lineman Matthew Gono is a prime candidate and we sit down with him to hea[...]At the end of an April with a lot of Division III news, we're hoping for some even bigger news -- an NFL draft pick. Those don't come every year in D-III, but Wesley offensive lineman Matthew Gono is a prime candidate and we sit down with him to hear about the prospect process and his Draft Day plans. Franklin & Marshall is trying to buck the trend as well, as the Diplomats have their sights on knocking off Johns Hopkins in the Centennial. The Dips have a new stadium at their disposal as well, and coach John Troxell talks about the process that went into Shadek Stadium and how important a previous coach's players was in making that happen. But Occidental has the biggest odds to overcome, it seems, with the Tigers trying to rally after playing three games last season and essentially getting a $280,000 fundraising tab it has to pay up from its administration. That plus Pat and Keith discuss what's brewing at Mary Hardin-Baylor, Thomas More and more.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 193: Spring is herehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/03/26/atn-podcast-193-spring-is-here/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/03/26/atn-podcast-193-spring-is-here/#respondMon, 26 Mar 2018 05:59:35 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4014We are deep in the Division III football offseason. It’s already been more than 90 days since we crowned Mount Union national championship and it’s more than five months before we restart.

Spring practice is getting started, at least in warmer climates, and there are still some open coaching positions and some 2018 schedules left to finalize. We’re curious about what the Stagg Bowl will look like in 2018, and as it turns out, the NCAA committee is waiting to hear some details as well.

On this edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast, we chat with new Washington & Lee coach Garrett LeRose (@coachlerose on Twitter) about taking over the position as a 2007 grad of W&L. Lake Forest coach Jim Catanzaro (@LFC_Football) chats both about his program and his position on the football NCAA committee, including how they make the last at-large picks and what we might expect at the Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas. And we chat with Allegheny coach B.J. Hammer (@CoachBJHammer) about rebuilding that once-proud program, the 1990 Division III national champion, as well as what he learned from his last head-coaching job.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full episode:

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/03/26/atn-podcast-193-spring-is-here/feed/01:06:24On this edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast, we chat with new Washington & Lee coach Garrett LeRose (@coachlerose on Twitter) about taking over the position as a 2007 grad of W&L. Lake Forest coach Jim Catanzaro (@LFC_[...]On this edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast, we chat with new Washington & Lee coach Garrett LeRose (@coachlerose on Twitter) about taking over the position as a 2007 grad of W&L. Lake Forest coach Jim Catanzaro (@LFC_Football) chats both about his program and his position on the football NCAA committee, including how they make the last at-large picks and what we might expect at the Stagg Bowl in Shenandoah, Texas. And we chat with Allegheny coach B.J. Hammer (@CoachBJHammer) about rebuilding that once-proud program, the 1990 Division III national champion, as well as what he learned from his last head-coaching job. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 192: Back for a second yearhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/02/25/atn-podcast-192-back-for-a-second-year/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/02/25/atn-podcast-192-back-for-a-second-year/#respondMon, 26 Feb 2018 02:55:18 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4006When you first become a head coach, there’s a flurry of things to do, a bunch of things to learn, and not always enough time to do it or enough people to lean on to get it done. Only after that first season might a coach then have time to step back, re-evaluate, and consider what they might want to do differently.

On this edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast, we’re talking with three head coaches who are now through that first year and ready to re-evaluate. We chat with Dan Swanstrom of Ithaca, Matt Moore of Northwestern (Minn.) and Jim Hilvert of Baldwin Wallace about their experiences, what they learned and what they might expect of their team in 2018. Plus, Pat and Keith have the latest on two stories that saw Division III football players from prominent programs in court last fall, and look at the crazy barnstorming schedule that one program will undertake this fall.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.
Full February episode:Bonus content/February preview

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/02/25/atn-podcast-192-back-for-a-second-year/feed/00:59:53On this edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast, we're talking with three head coaches who are now through that first year and ready to re-evaluate. We chat with Dan Swanstrom of Ithaca, Matt Moore of Northwestern (Minn.) and Jim Hil[...]On this edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast, we're talking with three head coaches who are now through that first year and ready to re-evaluate. We chat with Dan Swanstrom of Ithaca, Matt Moore of Northwestern (Minn.) and Jim Hilvert of Baldwin Wallace about their experiences, what they learned and what they might expect of their team in 2018. Plus, Pat and Keith have the latest on two stories that saw Division III football players from prominent programs in court last fall, and look at the crazy barnstorming schedule that one program will undertake this fall.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoFebruary podcast previewhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/02/24/february-podcast-preview/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/02/24/february-podcast-preview/#respondSat, 24 Feb 2018 18:20:03 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=4002Alright, we know, last months’ podcast was long. Too long. We’re going to do our best to keep the offseason podcasts capped at one hour.

With that in mind, here’s a preview, plus an outtake from one of our interviews. We’re chatting with Ithaca coach Dan Swanstrom, Northwestern (Minn.) coach Matt Moore and Baldwin Wallace coach Jim Hilvert this month, and in this segment, Swanstrom is chatting about what he does when he’s on the road recruiting, or the team is traveling.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/02/24/february-podcast-preview/feed/00:07:32Here's a preview of our February podcast, plus an outtake from one of our interviews. We're chatting with Ithaca coach Dan Swanstrom, Northwestern (Minn.) coach Matt Moore and Baldwin Wallace coach Jim Hilvert this month, and in this segment, Swanst[...]Here's a preview of our February podcast, plus an outtake from one of our interviews. We're chatting with Ithaca coach Dan Swanstrom, Northwestern (Minn.) coach Matt Moore and Baldwin Wallace coach Jim Hilvert this month, and in this segment, Swanstrom is chatting about what he does when he's on the road recruiting, or the team is traveling. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 191: Breakout teams, big stagehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/01/28/atn-podcast-191-breakout-teams-big-stage/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/01/28/atn-podcast-191-breakout-teams-big-stage/#respondMon, 29 Jan 2018 02:58:42 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3998January might not seem like a busy month in Division III football, but Division III was represented on the big stage, both at the Sugar Bowl and the Senior Bowl, while the offseason got a bit of a late start for teams that advanced in the playoffs.

To wrap up January, we talked with Wooster offensive lineman Patrick Mohorcic, the captain of the AFCA’s Good Works team, about his work combating violence against women, Wooster’s challenging season and more. Brockport coach Jason Mangone reflects on his team’s run to the national semifinals, getting a late start on recruiting and the fate of his playoff beard. And Berry coach Tony Kunczewski talks about his team’s run to the playoffs, building a program in a part of the country where Division III isn’t well known, and how being on the national committee shapes his understanding of the playoff picture.

Plus, there’s a piece of breaking news in this podcast, as one senior who has a fifth year of eligibility is identified and announced. And since there’s a football game this upcoming week, nobody was allowed to get out of the podcast without giving a prediction for Super Bowl LII.

This is a long podcast. Perhaps you need to set aside a few extra minutes to listen. But we would appreciate it. As would our guests.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2018/01/28/atn-podcast-191-breakout-teams-big-stage/feed/01:42:55To wrap up January, we talked with Wooster offensive lineman Patrick Mohorcic, the captain of the AFCA's Good Works team, about his work combating violence against women, Wooster's challenging season and more. Brockport coach Jason Mangone reflects [...]To wrap up January, we talked with Wooster offensive lineman Patrick Mohorcic, the captain of the AFCA's Good Works team, about his work combating violence against women, Wooster's challenging season and more. Brockport coach Jason Mangone reflects on his team's run to the national semifinals, getting a late start on recruiting and the fate of his playoff beard. And Berry coach Tony Kunczewski talks about his team's run to the playoffs, building a program in a part of the country where Division III isn't well known, and how being on the national committee shapes his understanding of the playoff picture. Plus, there's a bit of breaking news in this podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 190: A farewell to 2017 and Salemhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/16/atn-podcast-190-a-farewell-to-2017-and-salem/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/16/atn-podcast-190-a-farewell-to-2017-and-salem/#respondSat, 16 Dec 2017 17:45:29 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3992Our traditional gathering to end the Division III football season takes place in Salem, at Mac & Bob’s. In 2015, when the Internet connection at Salem Stadium cut off our postgame broadcast, we started recording our final podcast there. And last year, we recorded it live, for an audience.

That tradition was short, but sweet, one of the many things we did for the final time. But Pat and Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi and the D3football.com crew did the same Friday night. And they were joined by guests who could talk about the long history of the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia, former NCAA liaison Wayne Burrow and longtime Stagg Bowl game manager Carey Harveycutter. This final 2017 podcast is both a farewell to the season, and a Salem retrospective that tells us how the destination of Division III football came to be this small town in the Roanoke Valley.

Plus, Keith and Pat hand out their game balls, debate and name the offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year and coach of the year, and more on this week’s podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/16/atn-podcast-190-a-farewell-to-2017-and-salem/feed/01:33:25Pat and Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi and the D3football.com crew were joined by guests who could talk about the long history of the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia, former NCAA liaison Wayne Burrow and longtime Stagg Bowl game manager Carey Harve[...]Pat and Keith, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi and the D3football.com crew were joined by guests who could talk about the long history of the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia, former NCAA liaison Wayne Burrow and longtime Stagg Bowl game manager Carey Harveycutter. This final 2017 podcast is both a farewell to the season, and a Salem retrospective that tells us how the destination of Division III football came to be this small town in the Roanoke Valley.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits predicts Stagg Bowl XLVhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/14/quick-hits-predicts-stagg-bowl-xlv/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/14/quick-hits-predicts-stagg-bowl-xlv/#commentsFri, 15 Dec 2017 02:47:13 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3985We have one game left, and somehow it seems that six predictions, and quick ones, are no longer appropriate. So we bring out a couple more experts, and we give everyone a couple hundred words to work with. We’ve been making these predictions ever since 1999, when our panel correctly picked what everyone in Division III thought was an upset — Pacific Lutheran over Rowan. Last year, our panel correctly picked Mary Hardin-Baylor, in a 5-4 decision over UW-Oshkosh, befitting the three-point outcome.

Nobody consulted with one another. Feel free to add your pick and reasoning in the comments section below.
Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

I’m going to start by saying something I assume my colleagues and fellow prognosticators will echo, that I expect a defensive battle. UMHB has allowed just 10 points (plus a truly garbage-time “touchdown” against Chapman), and the Mount Union defense should have some success against the UMHB offense as well. And in a game like this, one great play or defensive score or missed assignment could loom large. And I look at the game this way as well: If someone gets down by two touchdowns, who is more likely to rally? I think we know the answer based on last week, especially when you consider that Mary Hardin-Baylor hasn’t even trailed all season. But I don’t think UMHB gets that far down. The rest of the crew will probably talk about individual players and matchups, so I’m focusing on big picture here.Mary Hardin-Baylor 17, Mount Union 13.

In the past three playoff games, UMHB has defeated top-10 teams while allowing 10 total points. Mount Union hasn’t been held under 43. And while the Nos. 1- and 2-ranked teams in the nation beat 4 and 3 to get here, Friday night will be the first time either has met its match in team speed. That’ll manifest on deep balls, on defensive pursuit and in the pass rush. Look for each team to try to get its young quarterback comfortable early. Although the game might bog down and become a defensive grind, 10 (like last Stagg Bowl) or 14 (like last season’s meeting) won’t be enough for the Cru to beat the Purple Raiders. They’ll have to cash in chances against a defense that’s allowed eight plays from scrimmage of 29 yards or longer, and four kickoff returns of 36 yards or more, the past two games.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, Mount Union 21.

My head is wrestling with my heart. All of the storylines are set up for a Purple Raiders culmination: one last trip to Salem, redemption after coming up short last year, vengeance against the team that snapped their Stagg Bowl streak, an us-against-the-world mentality from the team that will be wearing all black on Friday. But narratives won’t put up points on Mary Hardin-Baylor’s defense, which is somehow better after graduating program-defining players following last season’s title. It’s not unusual for one of the nation’s stingiest defenses to make it to Salem, but we haven’t seen anything like this year’s Cru (7.0 points per game allowed) since 2003. That year, Mount Union entered the Stagg Bowl allowing just six points per game, seeking a fourth straight national championship. The Purple Raiders defense gave up 17 points to the Johnnies offense as St. John’s won, 24-6. The past two weeks have shown that speedy receivers like Bryce Wilkerson and T.J. Josey should be able to get behind Mount Union’s secondary. Will freshman quarterback Carl Robinson III have enough time and a clean enough pocket to take advantage? Conversely, will D’Angelo Fulford remain poised when pressured by the best defensive front in the nation? The Purple Raiders have a versatile offense that will try to dictate the game’s tempo. But not many defenses have players like UMHB’s Tevin Jones and Jalen Martin who are equally adept at defending the run and the pass. Mount Union’s defense has not inspired confidence during this playoff run, while Mary Hardin-Baylor’s has been the most impressive unit of this postseason. I picked the Purple Raiders to win it all back in August. They won their first title at the first Stagg Bowl played in Salem, then won 11 more. A couple of breaks will go their way in a tight game, giving Mount Union lucky number 13. The Kehres family will hoist the Walnut and Bronze in Salem Stadium one more time.Mount Union 20, Mary Hardin-Baylor 14.

I think that we’re going to see both teams struggle to move the ball early in the game. Yes, part of that will be nerves from playing in such a big game in front of a national TV audience, but moreso it’ll be because these are the best defenses each offense has faced all season. A period to adjust to the style and speed of the opponent is to be expected. It’ll be after that period, however, when I think Mount will separate itself with a more dynamic offense — there’s more depth (and more real options) in the rushing and receiving attacks for Mount than for UMHB. The Cru defense can’t home in on just one player, and rotations will keep Mount playmakers better rested. Plus, having seen the video from both teams, I think Mount’s offense line will be better positioned to help its run/pass game succeed in converting third downs and breaking open a big play every now and then.Mount Union 24, Mary Hardin-Baylor 17.

After leaving the “CRUthedral” on Saturday night, I was sure I was going to pick Mount Union to win this game. UMHB has given up 10 sacks of Carl Robinson, III, in two weeks, and Robinson has been out-gained by opposing quarterbacks in both their quarterfinal and semifinal games. Between that and the Mount Union momentum from the 25-point comeback made me feel like Mount Union has the edge coming into this game. First, I want to say to folks that believe a team can win the Stagg Bowl on defense alone, it doesn’t work that way. Ultimately, a team needs to achieve a balance in the cold elements to ensure the defense gets rest. Cold weather can cause as much cramping as hot weather, and time of possession matters in this game. Even if the offense doesn’t score four touchdowns, they need to hold onto the ball and not put their defense back on the field immediately. That’s going to be the biggest challenge for UMHB Friday — and many folks don’t believe the Cru can succeed at that. Yet, the Mount Union defense, despite playing well in the second halves of their games against Frostburg State and UW-Oshkosh, gave up a lot of points — in the first half against the Bobcats, they gave up 24, and in just more than a half against Oshkosh, they gave up 35. While the Mount Union defense may be able to penetrate the UMHB offensive line, I think the Cru will be able to possess the ball enough to both score and keep their defense well rested. Let’s face it, we know about the Cru defense’s strength and the Mount Union offense’s overall consistency. Mount Union will score some points, but the Cru defense will clamp down eventually. These are just givens to me. After looking at the numbers and at the games over the past few weeks, I’m giving the edge here to UMHB — the No. 1 team on my Top 25 ballot all season — in a close one.Mary Hardin-Baylor 21, Mount Union 17.

Greg Thomas, D3football.com contributor and bracketology consultant

I’m sure I’m the first Quick Hitter to offer this analysis- we’ve got a strength versus strength matchup here. Mount Union has the number one scoring offense while UMHB has the number one scoring defense. These rankings are not just a product of regular season excesses either. Mount Union is coming off of a 70-point quarterfinal outburst and a 33-point second half effort in last week’s wild comeback at Oshkosh. The Cru defense has only allowed 16 points in these playoffs with just ten of those points coming in high leverage situations and also registering two shutouts. The very elite offenses in the division can and do find ways to score against the very elite defenses. Stagg Bowl history tells us to expect plenty of points. Last year’s 10-7 game was a bit of an exception. UMHB’s formula for playoff success has been to grab a lead, take the air out of the ball on offense, and let this amazing defense smother their opponent. What happens if the Crusaders don’t get a lead? Or even if they do, we know how tenacious Mount Union will be if forced to play from behind. This is going to be a fascinating game. In the end, I think Mount Union is going to do enough to force UMHB to play a fourth quarter offense and I don’t know if the Crusaders can flip the switch back on after playing so conservatively for four weeks. On Friday night, I like the Purple Raiders to bookend the Salem era with national championships.Mount Union 28, Mary Hardin-Baylor 20.

Kevin Niehus, Division III football analyst and former Thomas More quarterback

Final Stagg Bowl in Salem, which was a surprise when it was announced last year. Its no surprise who is here, as we have arguably the two top programs in the country. When one considers Mount Union as a program, you think ,about the offense and big plays. When talking about Mary Hardin-Baylor, the program’s defensive speed and size comes to mind. So it’s the old adage does a great defense beat a great offense (or vice versa)? Will D’Angelo Fulford able to string together long drives against MHB’s speed and DL size on defense? Look for a good mix of run/pass using the a very good group of RB’s and WR’s for Mount Union. I look for Mount Union to find a way to get shorter third down attempts with their athletes. In the other match up, UMHB freshman QB Carl Robinson, will line up across from the second-fastest defense he’s seen this year. Mount Union will need to get pressure on Robinson to keep the ball out of Josey and Wilkerson’s hands, who are true gamebreakers. In the kicking game, Mount Union must NOT let Wilkerson get his hands on any kicks. If you have followed UMHB at all, you’ve seen his highlights. But, Mount Union just has too many playmakers and a QB who showed he can handle adversity last week AT OshKosh. After throwing the Pick-six, he settled down and led a comeback for the ages. He showed enough poise to make me believe Mount Union will find enough offense against a very tough defensive team.Mount Union 27, Mary Hardin-Baylor 13.

Logan Hansen, Hansenratings.com

Mary Hardin-Baylor has the opportunity to win their second consecutive Stagg Bowl, which is obvious, but they also have the opportunity to be one of the most imbalanced teams to ever take home the Division III National Championship. I’ve spent the last month explaining on Twitter why my model underestimated the Cru’s chances, but it should be fairly obvious–most other teams to make it to Salem were the best in the country at offense and defense, and not one or the other. My model favors the Purple Raiders by 6, mostly because of their balance. Mount Union ranks in the Top 10 in nearly every opponent-adjusted metric I track, rushing & passing, offense & defense. UMHB, on the other hand, hovers around No. 25 in most offensive categories, and as low as No. 94 in passing touchdowns per drive. Their defense is spectacular though, ranking at least No. 2 nationally in yards/play, first down rate, and points per drive. If UMHB holds UMU to 17 points or fewer in Salem, they will they surpass the 2013 UW-Whitewater defense for the best defensive rating in Division III since 1998. They’ve not allowed that many cumulative points yet in the playoffs, and I see no reason for them to start now, but I also don’t think the Cru can rely on two return touchdowns to save the day, either.Mount Union 17, Mary Hardin-Baylor 14.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/14/quick-hits-predicts-stagg-bowl-xlv/feed/4ATN Podcast 189: Twas the day before Stagg Bowlhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/14/atn-podcast-189-day-before-stagg-bowl/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/14/atn-podcast-189-day-before-stagg-bowl/#respondThu, 14 Dec 2017 08:02:49 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3982Wait, a podcast on a Thursday? Yep, that’s right — Pat Coleman and guest analyst Frank Rossi step up to the mic in Salem for a special edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast focused on getting you ready for Stagg Bowl XLV. We talk with players on both sides for their perspective and highlight a couple of places where the game Friday night could well turn.

Plus, we talk with UW-Oshkosh coach Pat Cerroni about how the semifinal game ended, what it was like to attend the Gagliardi Trophy ceremony in a year where his team isn’t playing, as well as whether he considered throwing the ball to the end zone rather than attempting a field goal on the final play of the game.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/14/atn-podcast-189-day-before-stagg-bowl/feed/00:50:59Wait, a podcast on a Thursday? Yep, that's right -- Pat Coleman and guest analyst Frank Rossi step up to the mic in Salem for a special edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast focused on getting you ready for Stagg Bowl XLV. We talk [...]Wait, a podcast on a Thursday? Yep, that's right -- Pat Coleman and guest analyst Frank Rossi step up to the mic in Salem for a special edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast focused on getting you ready for Stagg Bowl XLV. We talk with players on both sides for their perspective and highlight a couple of places where the game Friday night could well turn. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 188: And then there were twohttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/11/atn-podcast-188-and-then-there-were-two/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/11/atn-podcast-188-and-then-there-were-two/#commentsMon, 11 Dec 2017 09:45:25 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3979We’re pretty sure you already know what this podcast is about: two teams left, two epic performances, one in the comeback from 25 points down in 24 minutes and the other being another stifling defensive performance. Pat and Keith break down the games, with Keith looking at each game a second time and giving his first keys to the game for Stagg Bowl XLV.

This week, Fanraise is the sponsor of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. Find out more at Thefanraise.com.

Pat and Keith hand out game balls, look at both semifinals and preview their final Top 25 ballots in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/11/atn-podcast-188-and-then-there-were-two/feed/11:08:51We're pretty sure you already know what this podcast is about: two teams left, two epic performances, one in the comeback from 25 points down in 24 minutes and the other being another stifling defensive performance. Pat and Keith break down the game[...]We're pretty sure you already know what this podcast is about: two teams left, two epic performances, one in the comeback from 25 points down in 24 minutes and the other being another stifling defensive performance. Pat and Keith break down the games, with Keith looking at each game a second time and giving his first keys to the game for Stagg Bowl XLV.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoThe Quick Hits takes on the semifinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/08/the-quick-hits-takes-on-the-semifinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/08/the-quick-hits-takes-on-the-semifinals/#commentsFri, 08 Dec 2017 14:34:14 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3965Well, we’ve spent this past week talking about these games, envisioning what these semifinals look like and now it’s time to get down to the finish and tell you how the games will go. Hopefully we get two great games that will be great examples of Division III football to the audience on ESPN3, but our panelists will let you know below how likely that is.

The Quick Hits
playoff crew:

Keith: After Round 2, the Titans looked Stagg Bowl-bound. Last week, the Purple Raiders did. So how do we know who wins when they face one another? Both offenses should put points up, and both O-lines keep their quarterback clean. The game is as much about Cole Parrish and Ty Summers as the men they’ll be snapping to. So it’ll come down to whichever defense contains the deep threats, and comes up with a few stops or turnovers; that’ll provide the edge in what should be one of the playoffs’ best games. UW-Oshkosh 31, Mount Union 28.

Ryan: Both of these teams have all the right stat boxes checked on offense, defense and turnovers — plus being power teams from power conferences makes this perhaps the more intriguing of the weekend’s two matchups. The Titans will do a better job of closing the deal in the red zone, they won’t shoot themselves in the foot with penalties, and quarterback Brett Kasper is simply one of those players who wows me every time he steps onto the field. UW-Oshkosh 28, Mount Union 24.

Pat: I don’t know how many defensive stops UW-Oshkosh will come up with on Saturday. But the thing to remember is that this is a Mount Union offense that has had some issues with consistency this season. In games where they don’t get challenged, that’s not particularly noticeable, but maybe this isn’t the best Purple Raiders offense. It’s not the 2016 UW-Oshkosh defense either, though, and they may not have the best success against Mount Union. On the other hand, it’s not the 2016 Oshkosh offense, either. This group is better across the board — the Titans are a year older, key players have gotten some time off, and Brett Kasper is better. What I think this adds up to is a relatively high-scoring game. UW-Oshkosh 35, Mount Union 31.

Adam: Did you enjoy last year’s low-scoring defensive battles in the semifinals? Then this game is not for you. Both offenses are humming, but the defenses have not been as dominant as some of the defenses on the other side of the bracket. The matchup to watch here is Mount Union’s linebackers and hybrid safeties against the Titans’ talented and experienced skill position players who will be shifting and motioning in an attempt to beat the Purple Raiders to open space. Mount Union is on a mission and the defense will come up with enough stops to send the Purple Raiders back to Salem. Mount Union 42, UW-Oshkosh 31.

Frank: I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sold at the beginning of the season that Oshkosh could get this far again. With the level of losses to graduation and the hellacious WIAC matchups the Titans needed to get through, it seemed unlikely. This return to the semifinals is a credit to their experienced players, no doubt. Yet, Mount Union comes in with what seems like a chip on the team’s shoulder and a strong desire to return to the Stagg Bowl after a rare miss in 2016. We saw last week how invaluable the receivers are for the Raiders, regardless of who’s throwing the ball. As long as the defense tightens up and doesn’t allow a decent chunk of points like they did against Frostburg State in the first half, I think Mount Union can keep this game close enough to win it late. Mount Union 28, UW-Oshkosh 24.

Greg: There are really not weaknesses on either of these teams. Both teams have great offenses and elite defenses and finding points of separation is almost impossible. If there is a place where one team is slightly less excellent, it is Mount Union’s rush offense. The Raiders may be quite one-dimensional in this game and despite all of the playmakers they have at quarterback and receiver this may be the downfall. Both teams will score, but I give a slight advantage to the Titans and an offense that is almost perfectly diverse. UW-Oshkosh 35, Mount Union 28.

Keith: UMHB’s closing speed on defense has been unparalleled. The Cru also tackles well when it arrives at the ball. That’ll be a key against Brockport, as the Golden Eagles spread defenses out and let QB Joe Germinerio pick them apart. If Daquan Hubbard (24 yards a catch) and UMHB CB Kris Brown (4 INT) get matched up, it’ll be worth the price of admission. In the end, Brockport moves the ball and puts up a valiant effort, but the champs are just too solid on defense and special teams, and do enough on offense.Mary Hardin-Baylor 28, Brockport 14.

Ryan: In unabashed coach-speak, this season’s UMHB squad has truly been more about the team than the individual. For example, this is only the second time in the past seven seasons that a UMHB player hasn’t been either offensive or defensive All-Region Player of the Year (last year, Cru athletes got both spots). And even still, UMHB is at the top of my ballot. Full respect to all that Joe Germinerio and his fellow Brockport players accomplished this season (and showing that the top tier in D-III doesn’t have to be hereditary), but this is a Cru team that is poised for another 15-game season. Mary Hardin-Baylor 34, Brockport 20.

Pat: There’s a different level at this stage of the game, and the defensive speed that throttled Linfield twice and shut down Hardin-Simmons and St. Thomas isn’t likely to be something Brockport has seen, let alone been able to replicate in practice. Meanwhile, the UMHB offense (read: quarterback) is young and will probably make some mistakes, especially against a Brockport defense that has had some statistical success this season. If Brockport adjusts to the speed of the game quickly and keeps its composure, it can make things respectable. But UMHB competes on that higher plane these days, and it will show in the end. Mary Hardin-Baylor 41, Brockport 20.

Adam: It’s hard to fathom that this year’s Crusaders defense may be better than last year’s championship squad that graduated multiple key starters. But, the Cru have dominated opposing offenses all season and Brockport’s prolific offense has never seen a defense like this one. The Cru’s great defense has been crucial to freshman quarterback Carl Robinson III’s development. Brockport’s historic run ends as UMHB punches its ticket for a return to Salem. Mary Hardin-Baylor 28, Brockport 10.

Frank: As the co-host of an East Region podcast, this game is the true battle of heart vs. head for me. We latched onto Brockport after their Week 1 defeat of Hobart and learned how great the personality of QB Joe Germinerio is. The team is indeed stacked on both sides of the ball — maybe we should’ve seen this success coming. However, my head says to never pick against the Cru at home, and Coach Pete Fredenburg’s team wants to make his 20th season sweet with one more trip to Salem. The Cru offense hasn’t buried teams early this year normally, and they won’t do it Saturday. Yet, they will pull away as depth plays a role and the Cru’s insanely good defense digs in during the second half. Mary Hardin-Baylor 31, Brockport 17.

Greg: It has been quite a ride for the Golden Eagles, however the run for the East Region champions is going to end in Belton. Joe Germinerio is a star, but he’s going to face a defense unlike anything that lives in the East — or anywhere else in D-III, frankly. I expect the Crusaders to have a little easier time on offense than they have had the last two weeks, but Coach Fredenburg isn’t after style points at this stage of the tournament. He’ll let his defense handle this, keep Carl Robinson III out of tough situations, and get ready to defend the championship next Friday. Mary Hardin-Baylor 28, Brockport 7.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/08/the-quick-hits-takes-on-the-semifinals/feed/4ATN Podcast 187: Last gasps, final kicks, big pickshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/04/atn-podcast-187-last-gasps-kicks-picks/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/04/atn-podcast-187-last-gasps-kicks-picks/#respondMon, 04 Dec 2017 09:04:54 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3962Quarterfinals week — or semifinals, if you’re already looking ahead, is part of a nutritious Division III diet. Whether it’s a last-second field goal, an unexpectedly expected quarterback change, or an expected defensive and special teams battle, the four games Saturday had enough to keep any Division III fan interested.

This week, Fanraise is the sponsor of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. Find out more at Thefanraise.com.

Pat and Keith hand out game balls, look at each quarterfinal game, and check in on the upcoming semifinal matchups in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/04/atn-podcast-187-last-gasps-kicks-picks/feed/00:54:49Quarterfinals week -- or semifinals, if you're already looking ahead, is part of a nutritious Division III diet. Whether it's a last-second field goal, an unexpectedly expected quarterback change, or an expected defensive and special teams battle, t[...]Quarterfinals week -- or semifinals, if you're already looking ahead, is part of a nutritious Division III diet. Whether it's a last-second field goal, an unexpectedly expected quarterback change, or an expected defensive and special teams battle, the four games Saturday had enough to keep any Division III fan interested.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Predicting the quarterfinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/01/quick-hits-predicting-the-quarterfinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/01/quick-hits-predicting-the-quarterfinals/#commentsFri, 01 Dec 2017 15:01:21 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3956We’re down to four games, so it’s time to bring a little commentary back — here’s our take on the national quarterfinal games, with, perhaps, something resembling explanation.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas each take their crack at it this week and every week from here to Salem. Photos by d3photography.com; Frostburg State athletics; Delaware Valley athletics; Brockport athletics by Matt Yeoman.

Wartburg at UW-Oshkosh

Keith’s take: UW-Oshkosh 42, Wartburg 14. Two of the nation’s five most-efficient passers, in Brett Kasper and Matt Sacia, are facing off, but the jump in level of competition for Wartburg will be evident along the lines.

Ryan’s take: UW-Oshkosh 28, Wartburg 17. The Knights have shaken off the postseason jitters, but the Titans will be beyond their reach. UW-O has already faced (and beaten) Wartburg-caliber teams this season.

Pat’s take: UW-Oshkosh 42, Wartburg 20. Oshkosh just has too much speed and too many offensive weapons for the Knights to account for.

Adam’s take: UW-Oshkosh 38, Wartburg 17. The Titans have too many playmakers on offense. Brett Kasper is playing his best at the most opportune time. Oshkosh will also be the best defense the Knights have faced this season.

Frank’s take: UW-Oshkosh 21, Wartburg 17. Would the real Wartburg please stand up? Their two playoff games have been dynamically different, but Oshkosh’s defense will keep the score low.

Greg’s take: UW-Oshkosh 38, Wartburg 14. This is a large step up in class for Wartburg to take this week after wins over Franklin and Trine. I expect the Titan offense to be overwhelming and Oshkosh to advance comfortably.

Frostburg State at Mount Union

Keith’s take: Mount Union 35, Frostburg State 21. Watch from the lines out; both teams have controlled their playoff games at the LOS; UMU QB D’Angelo Fulford hasn’t been hurried, much less sacked, in either playoff game.

Ryan’s take: Mount Union 31, Frostburg State 24. The question is: How much will this week’s weirdness be a factor? Mount’s offense won’t be on the field all the time, so Frostburg will have a chance to get some points.

Pat’s take: Mount Union 31, Frostburg State 17. Great run for Bobcats, who might give Mount a run before running out of options on offense. They won’t have as much success keeping the Mount offense on the sideline.

Adam’s take: Mount Union 28, Frostburg State 20. Frostburg’s style of play gives it a better chance than most against the Purple Raiders. The Bobcats are not lacking confidence and will pull out all the stops to keep this season going. I just don’t see Mount Union losing in Alliance.

Frank’s take: Mount Union 35, Frostburg State 27. Frostburg beat W&J despite 3 INTs by Cox. He has to play error-free ball, and the Bobcats must take what they’re given offensively. Yet, UMU has the depth to win this late.

Greg’s take: Mount Union 31, Frostburg St. 24. Turnovers are a bugaboo for the Bobcats and this is the place that you can’t get away with giving it away. The Bobcats are going to push Mount Union, but ultimately I think they are one turnover too many away from advancing.

Hansen odds to advance: Mount Union, 95%.Consensus: Mount Union in the 30s, Frostburg State in the 20s.

St. Thomas at Mary Hardin-Baylor

Keith’s take: UMHB 18, St. Thomas 14. Both defenses smother their opponents’ run games, while trying to establish the run. With freshman QB Carl Robinson III starting, expect the Cru to get conservative and keep it low-scoring.

Ryan’s take: UMHB 24, St. Thomas 14. It’s hard to ignore a team that shut out a Top 10 opponent just last week. Lights-out defense for the Cru will carry them yet another playoff level deeper.

Pat’s take: UMHB 17, St. Thomas 13. A special teams score on one side, a gadget play on the other, perhaps, could make it higher scoring in the end, but not by much.

Adam’s take: St. Thomas 27, UMHB 24. This matchup could belong in Salem two weeks later. As long as the Tommies limit their turnovers, their defense will torment the Cru’s inexperienced QB(s) enough to survive and advance.

Frank’s take: UMHB 34, St. Thomas 21. This will be a low-scoring game early, with UMHB pulling away late. The Cru have lacked offensive oomph this year — but have been a defensive power overall.

Greg’s take: St. Thomas 17, UMHB 14. This is about the time in the tournament where freshman quarterbacks make me nervous. These great defenses may play to a stalemate, with some Glenn Caruso special teams sorcery being the deciding factor.

Hansen odds to advance: St. Thomas, 52%.Consensus: A split decision for a low-scoring game favoring Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Brockport at Delaware Valley

Keith’s take: Brockport 31, Delaware Valley 21. The Golden Eagles’ versatility makes the difference in the only road win of the quarters. Brockport allows 1.18 yards per rush; Del Val gains 5.82, and that’s where we’ll see one side fissure.

Ryan’s take: Delaware Valley 31, Brockport 30. Though Brockport has has the tougher road to get to this point, I think Del Val’s defense will hold the Golden Eagles just shy of victory in the long run.

Pat’s take: Brockport 28, Delaware Valley 13. A game in which the Golden Eagles are in control early and methodically close out Del Val.

Adam’s take: Delaware Valley 42, Brockport 41. The Aggies’ aggressive defense and special teams will come up with just enough big plays. A blocked kick could end up being the difference, as quarterbacks Dashawn Darden and Joe Germinerio go toe-to-toe in a game good enough to make us forget Round Two.

Frank’s take: Brockport 20, Delaware Valley 14. Many focus on their offenses, but these defenses have been impeccable of late. This will be a slugfest that Brockport wins very late based on a big defensive play.

Greg’s take: Brockport 35, Delaware Valley 14. Joe Germinerio may be the most outstanding player of the tournament so far. He’ll be great again and the Golden Eagles will have a surprisingly comfortable ride to the semifinals.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/12/01/quick-hits-predicting-the-quarterfinals/feed/8ATN Podcast 186: Blowing it all outhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/27/atn-podcast-186-blowing-it-all-out/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/27/atn-podcast-186-blowing-it-all-out/#respondMon, 27 Nov 2017 08:02:19 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3952OK, yes, this second round of the playoffs was bad, in an epic way. No doubt. How bad? We’ll talk about that, for sure. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything we can learn from this week’s postseason games, because we definitely got a better look at some teams, even if there are a couple of teams advancing that haven’t yet been playoff tested.

This week, Fanraise is the sponsor of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. Find out more at Thefanraise.com.

Pat and Keith hand out game balls, look at each second-round game, and look at the upcoming quarterfinal matchups in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/27/atn-podcast-186-blowing-it-all-out/feed/00:57:59OK, yes, this second round of the playoffs was bad, in an epic way. No doubt. How bad? We'll talk about that, for sure. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything we can learn from this week's postseason games, because we definitely got a better loo[...]OK, yes, this second round of the playoffs was bad, in an epic way. No doubt. How bad? We'll talk about that, for sure. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything we can learn from this week's postseason games, because we definitely got a better look at some teams, even if there are a couple of teams advancing that haven't yet been playoff tested.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits’ take on second-round scoreshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/24/quick-hits-take-on-second-round-scores/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/24/quick-hits-take-on-second-round-scores/#commentsFri, 24 Nov 2017 04:01:53 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3944After an entertaining, but difficult-to-predict first round, our crew is back to give it another shot. So, we look at all eight second-round games and predict the final score. Do we expect a close game? A high-scoring game? A blowout? Does everyone agree on who will win? Those are the factors worth looking at.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas each take their crack at it this week and every week from here to Salem.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below, or tweet at us at @D3Keith, @NewsTipps and @d3football. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks and the highlights from the second round.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/24/quick-hits-take-on-second-round-scores/feed/4ATN Podcast 185: Fun first round, for startershttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/20/atn-podcast-185-fun-first-round-for-starters/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/20/atn-podcast-185-fun-first-round-for-starters/#commentsMon, 20 Nov 2017 09:25:54 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3936Yes, two top 10 teams are eliminated who should have had a better chance to advance into the second round, and it’s crazy that we have to wait until Sundays to find out who is hosting each round of the playoffs, but the stuff that happened on the field was pretty entertaining in the first round of the 2017 Division III playoffs. Pat and Keith talk about all 16 games, plus the surprise players who did and did not play on Saturday.

This week, Fanraise is the sponsor of the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. Find out more at Thefanraise.com.

Pat and Keith hand out game balls, look at each first-round game, get coaches’ reactions on two of the biggest play calls of the day and have postgame audio from each quadrant of the bracket in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/20/atn-podcast-185-fun-first-round-for-starters/feed/11:15:00Yes, two top 10 teams are eliminated who should have had a better chance to advance into the second round, and it's crazy that we have to wait until Sundays to find out who is hosting each round of the playoffs, but the stuff that happened on the fi[...]Yes, two top 10 teams are eliminated who should have had a better chance to advance into the second round, and it's crazy that we have to wait until Sundays to find out who is hosting each round of the playoffs, but the stuff that happened on the field was pretty entertaining in the first round of the 2017 Division III playoffs. Pat and Keith talk about all 16 games, plus the surprise players who did and did not play on Saturday. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits predicts the first round’s scoreshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/17/quick-hits-predicts-the-first-rounds-scores/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/17/quick-hits-predicts-the-first-rounds-scores/#respondFri, 17 Nov 2017 06:27:54 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3917The story goes, one day on a long ride to a playoff game at Thiel (which tells you how long ago this happened), Pat and Keith decided to pass the time by guessing not just the winner of each first-round playoff game, but the score. And there was born the expectations game: Do we expect a close game? A high-scoring game? A blowout? Does everyone agree on who will win? Those are the factors worth looking at.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Greg Thomas each take their guesses at scores for each first-round game. We also looped in the Hansen Ratings, updated with playoff experience as a factor, for anther objective take. The algorithm takes into account both home-field advantage and playoff experience, so a game such as Hardin-Simmons and Linfield, between teams with identical team ratings, ends up with Linfield given a 65 percent chance to win.

Here’s more data from Hansen Ratings. Select any two playoff teams to see how they would compare in a real or hypothetical matchup

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below, or tweet at @d3football. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks and the highlights from the first round.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/17/quick-hits-predicts-the-first-rounds-scores/feed/0ATN Podcast 184: A step forward?http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/13/atn-podcast-184-a-step-forward/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/13/atn-podcast-184-a-step-forward/#commentsMon, 13 Nov 2017 09:35:32 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3913So, we’ve become accustomed to a bracket with two flights in the first round, instead of one. Last year they told us it was no longer a one-time thing, and this year they followed through on that. But why is it that we can only keep two highly ranked teams apart for a round? Why do No. 5 and No. 8 play in order to potentially play No. 1 in the next round? You can find out more in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

Pat and Keith hand out game balls, find the hidden highlights, the interesting stats and then a whole bunch of bracket-specific items in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. You do not want to leave this podcast early, before you hear the bonus picks.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/13/atn-podcast-184-a-step-forward/feed/30:59:59Rather than a step forward, this bracket is like a trip back in time. In fact, this bracket features something that hasn't been in a Division III football bracket since 2009. Also, you do not want to leave this podcast early, before you hear the bon[...]Rather than a step forward, this bracket is like a trip back in time. In fact, this bracket features something that hasn't been in a Division III football bracket since 2009. Also, you do not want to leave this podcast early, before you hear the bonus picks.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Rivalries taking center stagehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/10/quick-hits-rivalries-taking-center-stage/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/10/quick-hits-rivalries-taking-center-stage/#respondFri, 10 Nov 2017 06:56:16 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3905Whether playing for a playoff spot, playing out the string, playing for a bell (Monon or Victory), or playing in a rivalry with no trophy at all, there should be lots of intrigue here in Week 11.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s guest is Brendan McKinnon. A former wide receiver at the Coast Guard Academy, Brendan also ran a college football site on Fox Sports’ Yardbarker blog network for five seasons.

— Pat Coleman

What’s this week’s Game of the Week?

Keith’s take: No. 19 Concordia-Moorhead at No. 6 St. John’s. Other games could set more playoff dominoes in motion, but this matches better teams and is essentially a play-in.

Ryan’s take: No. 19 Concordia-Moorhead at No. 6 St. John’s. Two regionally ranked teams vying to stay in the Pool C hunt. What’s not to love?

Pat’s take: Wabash at DePauw. This year, it’s Wabash’s opportunity to play spoiler, as DePauw is somehow in the top half of the North Region rankings.

Adam’s take: Concordia-Moorhead at St. John’s. The playoffs start a week early for these two ranked MIAC teams. Winner is in, loser is out.

Frank’s take: MIT at No. 20 Springfield. This game carries Pool B & C implications, as a Springfield loss would open up a Pool C slot.

Brendan’s take: The Secretaries’ Cup (Coast Guard-Merchant Marine) on ESPN3. It’s finally back at the end of the season where it belongs.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 14 Case Western Reserve. Last week’s dominance should have made us all believers, but the visit to 7-2 Carnegie Mellon is by far their toughest road test to date.

Ryan’s take: No. 14 Case Western Reserve. For all the talk of their playoff chances, a loss to Carnegie Mellon would take stress off the selection committee.

Pat’s take: No. 24 UW-La Crosse. Plenty of teams in the bottom few spots of the West Region rankings have taken extra losses so far. They could add to the list.

Adam’s take: No. 12 Wittenberg. Wooster has an explosive offense and will want to push the pace in a shootout. The Tigers have already clinched the NCAC title.

Frank’s take: No. 14 Case Western Reserve (at Carnegie Mellon). The Week 10 bye for the Tartans might be exactly what the team needs to bounce back and upset Case.

Guest’s take: No. 14 Case Western Reserve. Trap games and rivalries are a bad combination.

Pick a winner in a head-to-head game for an automatic bid.

Keith’s take: No. 7 Delaware Valley (vs. Widener). The Pride have a chance, and it would disrupt Pool C, but the Aggies’ defense is playing too well to blow the shot at 10-0.

Ryan’s take: Delaware Valley, over Widener. The Aggies have impressed all season and won’t slow now.

Pat’s take: Monmouth. There’s really only one way the Midwest Conference championship game will go.

Adam’s take: Monmouth. The Scots win the only true conference championship game and secure the MWC bid.

Frank’s take: No. 7 Delaware Valley (vs. Widener). As much as I favor upsets, I can’t see this game being a real challenge for the Aggies, with their balance on both sides of the ball.

Guest’s take: Johns Hopkins has the Centennial Conference locked up against McDaniel.

Who salvages a subpar season with a win in its finale?

Keith’s take: No. 23 UW-Whitewater. The Warhawks should beat UW-Eau Claire easily to finish 6-1 in the No. 1 conference, with losses to 10-0 and two 9-1 teams.

Ryan’s take: Washington U. Tough, tough schedule led to a bad record. If they’re not too beat up, Bridgewater should net them a win.

Pat’s take: Wabash. Because Bell.

Adam’s take: Coe. Last year’s 10-0 season is a distant memory. A win over Buena Vista would at least avoid finishing in the cellar alone.

Frank’s take: Stevenson (vs. Lycoming). The Mustangs started ranked in the Top 25, only to risk falling to .500 with a loss Saturday — a loss I believe they avoid.

Guest’s take: UW-Platteville. The Pioneers will end their skid and finish with a winning conference record.

Alma mater excluded, pick a winner in a rivalry game.

Keith’s take: Union or Wabash. Two of D-III’s best rivalries are back now that both sides are good at the same time again. We’ll see some weirdness Saturday.

Ryan’s take: Cortland. The Jug game this year pits two pretty evenly matched teams.

Pat’s take: Coast Guard. Glad this game is being showcased on ESPN3. It should be an entertaining one.

Guest’s take: Western New England. They haven’t faced a playoff caliber opponent in two months.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/10/quick-hits-rivalries-taking-center-stage/feed/0ATN Podcast 183: Here’s what’s lefthttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/06/atn-podcast-183-heres-whats-left/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/06/atn-podcast-183-heres-whats-left/#commentsMon, 06 Nov 2017 10:00:10 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3902We’re under a week from Selection Sunday. Only seven automatic bids are still up for grabs, and most will be really hard to pry away from the favorites. But what if both Washington & Jefferson and Case Western Reserve run the table? What if Widener upsets Delaware Valley? What if (insert your scenario here)? You can find out more in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/06/atn-podcast-183-heres-whats-left/feed/10:50:13We're under a week from Selection Sunday. Only seven automatic bids are still up for grabs, and most will be really hard to pry away from the favorites. But what if both Washington & Jefferson and Case Western Reserve run the table? What if Wid[...]We're under a week from Selection Sunday. Only seven automatic bids are still up for grabs, and most will be really hard to pry away from the favorites. But what if both Washington & Jefferson and Case Western Reserve run the table? What if Widener upsets Delaware Valley? What if (insert your scenario here)?D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Who will clinchhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/03/quick-hits-clinchers/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/03/quick-hits-clinchers/#respondFri, 03 Nov 2017 14:31:20 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3897This weekend is all about who will clinch automatic bids, on top of all the things that typically go on in a Division III football weekend. Our Quick Hits crew predicts clinchers, Top 25 upsets, conference upsets and teams that will go into the offseason on a high note. Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Patrick Bohn, an Ithaca grad who posts as Bomber798891 on D3boards.com.

Name a team outside the Top 25 which will clinch a bid this weekend.

Ryan’s take: Lakeland. The Muskies hold the tiebreaker over the two teams with one NACC loss.

Pat’s take: Trine. For that to happen this weekend, Trine must beat Alma and another game must go Trine’s way.

Adam’s take: Huntingdon. The Hawks will clinch the USA South, and will be a popular Quick Hit pick for the second straight week.

Frank’s take: Husson (vs. Alfred State). One of the bigger geography challenges for the NCAA selection committee will be back once again in the Pool of 32.

Patrick’s take: Franklin. The Grizzlies should light up the scoreboard against Anderson and easily clinch the HCAC auto-bid.

How many points will be scored, total, in the Montclair State-Rowan game?

Keith’s take: 24.

Ryan’s take: 31. A trick question since these two teams have played the best in the NJAC in recent outings, and the scoreboard reflected that.

Pat’s take: 22. Only because to say “3” seems harsh.

Adam’s take: 29. More than the 27 total that the Profs have scored during their five-game losing streak.

Frank’s take: 17.

Patrick’s take: 25. Both teams have good kickers, so I’m betting on six field goals and one touchdown.

What team will end the season this week on a high note?

Keith’s take: Thomas More. Saints get win No. 6 against Thiel, but last season in the PAC a disappointment.

Ryan’s take: Mount St. Joseph. Sure, last year’s game vs. Defiance came down to the wire, but recent history is on the Lions’ side.

Pat’s take: Simpson. A win vs. Nebraska Wesleyan, makes the Storm 6-4, three games better than 2016. (Plus they won’t help IWU’s and Concordia’s SOS.)

Adam’s take: Thomas More. The Saints will win their fifth in a row, finish above .500 for the tenth straight season, and send retiring coach Regis Scafe off with a victory.

Frank’s take: Mount St. Joseph. After combining with Franklin to score 105 points in a loss last week, the Lions roar at home to close out their season.

Patrick’s take: Northwestern. The Eagles’ season may have been a disappointment, but they’ll head into the offseason — and send fans home happy — on a four-game winning streak with a win over Crown.

Pick a winner in a conference upset outside the Top 25.

Keith’s take: Ithaca, vs. Union. The Bombers’ 5-3 mark has come against tougher opposition (.559 to .521 SoS) than the Dutchmen’s 7-1, and it will show.

Ryan’s take: MacMurray over St. Scholastica. No doubt Eureka is rooting for this outcome.

Pat’s take: Adrian over Olivet. This is that other result Trine needs to clinch the MIAA this week. Adrian is a misleading 3-5.

Adam’s take: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Stags might steal a win from Chapman, but the Panthers already have the conference title and playoff berth.

Frank’s take: Martin Luther. After a win that looked to potentially seal the UMAC for Eureka last week, the Knights have a chance to catch the Red Devils napping.

Patrick’s take: Utica. A tough Pioneers defense catches Cortland — who were stunned by St. John Fisher last week — looking ahead to Cortaca.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/11/03/quick-hits-clinchers/feed/0ATN Podcast 182: Eight teams for five at-large slotshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/30/atn-podcast-182-eight-teams-for-five-at-large-slots/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/30/atn-podcast-182-eight-teams-for-five-at-large-slots/#respondMon, 30 Oct 2017 07:35:25 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3893Sure, UW-Platteville losing theoretically opened up a playoff spot, but that doesn’t mean anyone should breathe easy. Even if you don’t count Platteville, there are at least eight more teams vying for at-large spots. (And there are only five spots.) If you want one of them, what are your chances? How can your chances improve? You can find out more in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/30/atn-podcast-182-eight-teams-for-five-at-large-slots/feed/00:57:06Sure, UW-Platteville losing theoretically opened up a playoff spot, but that doesn't mean anyone should breathe easy. Even if you don't count Platteville, there are at least eight more teams vying for at-large spots. (And there are only five spots.)[...]Sure, UW-Platteville losing theoretically opened up a playoff spot, but that doesn't mean anyone should breathe easy. Even if you don't count Platteville, there are at least eight more teams vying for at-large spots. (And there are only five spots.) If you want one of them, what are your chances? How can your chances improve?D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Games to keep an eye onhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/27/quick-hits-games-to-keep-an-eye-on/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/27/quick-hits-games-to-keep-an-eye-on/#commentsFri, 27 Oct 2017 11:52:31 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3887Lots of eyes on Iowa, where the first automatic bid of the season could be clinched, as well as on Indiana, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. But also, perhaps there’s something in Connecticut to note, or Oregon, or Washington (D.C., that is). Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Doug Samuels. A former Division III football player at Defiance, Doug is currently a high school coach and is also content manager for FootballScoop.

— Pat Coleman

Which Week 9 game is the game of the week?

Keith’s take: Dubuque at No. 19 Wartburg. No no-brainer this week. Let’s see how Knights look vs. toughest opponent since the opener.

Ryan’s take: No. 13 Wittenberg at Wabash. Few young rivalries have this level of intensity to them.

Adam’s take: No. 13 Wittenberg at Wabash. Doubtful the Tigers can repeat last week’s dominance, but another win could pretty much clinch the NCAC title..

Frank’s take: No. 14 Wesley at Montclair State. With the Salisbury showdown awaiting Wesley, this feels like a trap game. Not saying Wesley loses, but I think it could be closer than expected.

Doug’s take: No. 13 Wittenberg at Wabash. The Little Giants lost a close one in Week 7 and have a bad taste in their mouth with a change to get things back on track against a quality ranked Wittenberg team.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 24 Johns Hopkins. Blue Jays have hit their stride in October, but Muhlenberg is two three-point losses from being unbeaten.

Ryan’s take: No. 24 Johns Hopkins. The kicker being that they only made it back onto my ballot last week.

Pat’s take: No. 19 Wartburg. I’m basing this solely on the amount of talk from Dubuque players on Twitter after our preseason poll. Make the talk stand up.

Adam’s take: No. 19 Wartburg. Dubuque is very nearly 7-0 and the 5-2 Spartans should at least make a very close game of this.

Hartwick has the weekend off. So which team with Hawks in its name will score the most points?

Ryan’s take: Huntingdon. Opponent Greensboro gave up 59 last week, and that wasn’t even their biggest blowout this year.

Pat’s take: Huntingdon. Greensboro won’t put up too much of a fight, so it’ll be whatever the Hawks feel like scoring.

Adam’s take: Salve Regina. But the Seahawks might not score much against a stout Western New England defense.

Frank’s take: Huntingdon. They may play with Pride, but Greensboro has just one win as they prepare for a rested Huntingdon Hawks. This might get lopsided early.

Doug’s take: UW-Whitewater. The Warhawks will score the most AND – bonus info here – Montclair State (vs. Wesley) will score the LEAST.

Which game featuring a ranked team will be the closest?

Keith’s take: UW-La Crosse at No. 9 UW-Platteville. Eagles have been competitive but are 0-2 in the meat of their schedule.

Ryan’s take: Wash U at No. 17 Case Western Reserve. The Bears have a lot of losses, but their competition has been fierce.

Pat’s take: No. 18 Berry at Birmingham-Southern. I should double down on my first pick but BSC has been playing tight games and Berry is defense-oriented.

Adam’s take: Elmhurst will push No. 12 Illinois Wesleyan to the brink. The CCIW is deep this year.

Frank’s take: No. 24 Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg. I foresee a one-possession decision here in favor of JHU, but I expect it to be a great game between Centennial stalwarts.

Doug’s take: Dubuque at No. 19 Wartburg. Last year, Dubuque lost by eight. They’ll have some extra motivation to knock off the ranked Knights this year and I’m betting it’s close again.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/27/quick-hits-games-to-keep-an-eye-on/feed/1ATN Podcast 181: How it all ties togetherhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/23/atn-podcast-181-how-it-all-ties-together/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/23/atn-podcast-181-how-it-all-ties-together/#respondMon, 23 Oct 2017 08:39:50 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3882There were more than a couple of games that all came down to exciting endings at about the same time on Saturday, and there are plenty of games from this past week and future weeks that are fairly intertwined. We make all the connections for you in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. (If you think there’s a conspiracy, we urge you to listen in and decide for yourself.)

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/23/atn-podcast-181-how-it-all-ties-together/feed/01:11:49There were more than a couple of games that all came down to exciting endings at about the same time on Saturday, and there are plenty of games from this past week and future weeks that are fairly intertwined. We make all the connections for you in [...]There were more than a couple of games that all came down to exciting endings at about the same time on Saturday, and there are plenty of games from this past week and future weeks that are fairly intertwined. We make all the connections for you in this week's D3football.com Around the Nation podcast. (If you think there's a conspiracy, we urge you to listen in and decide for yourself.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Nailed to the cathedral doorhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/20/quick-hits-nailed-to-the-cathedral-door/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/20/quick-hits-nailed-to-the-cathedral-door/#respondFri, 20 Oct 2017 14:40:36 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3874Alright, so last week the crew — mostly Keith McMillan — was unimpressed with the questions provided. Perhaps they’ll learn to be glad for what they have, because this week requires them to know some stuff about how some schools operate. Or to take the easy way out and just pick schools with “Catholic” and “Lutheran” in their names. Our regular crew is Keith, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Ryan Carlson, who can be seen at @catdomealumni on Twitter.

— Pat Coleman

Which game will be the game of the week?

Keith’s take: Westminster at No. 15 W&J. The latter doesn’t play Case, but the Titans do, and could stand in way of both PAC 10-0’s en route to AQ.

Ryan’s take: No. 19 George Fox at No. 7 Linfield. There’s probably no team in the nation I’m more curious about than the Bruins.

Pat’s take: No. 13 Wittenberg at No. 25 DePauw. It has been so, so long since Witt opened the season with Westminster (Pa.), aka its last competitive contest.

Adam’s take: No. 19 George Fox at No. 7 Linfield. This would be a program-defining victory for the Bruins.

Frank’s take: No. 13 Wittenberg at No. 25 DePauw. With the Wabash loss last week, this game takes on extra meaning for NCAC leadership and the playoffs.

Ryan’s take: No. 19 George Fox at No. 7 Linfield. Control of the NWC is on the line. I didn’t even know there were other football games this weekend.

Frank’s take: The 2003 game. Ithaca wins a thriller, 20-19. It set up Ithaca for a playoff run (lost to RPI in the quarterfinals). Fisher may be down, but the Cardinals are still a tough out.

Ryan’s take: The 2003 game. (Ithaca 20-19). I live in the Pacific Northwest so that’s like asking someone from East Jersey what fishing season is like on the Columbia River.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/20/quick-hits-nailed-to-the-cathedral-door/feed/0ATN Podcast 180: Heavy on lightning, light on thunderhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/16/atn-podcast-180-heavy-lightning-light-thunder/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/16/atn-podcast-180-heavy-lightning-light-thunder/#respondMon, 16 Oct 2017 07:40:17 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3870A little bit of rain (OK, a lot of rain), a little lightning, half the usual Thunder and a few unbeaten teams getting their first loss made up a good part of the news in Week 7. This was definitely a common sight, and in the case of the Wheaton-North Central game, it didn’t end on Saturday, and it’s still not over. We break down the first half of that game, plus the Oshkosh win over Platteville and look at first losses for Alfred, Wabash, Framingham State and UW-La Crosse. That plus more in this week’s podcast.

Pat and Keith hand out game balls, find the hidden highlights, the correct pronunciations (it basically doesn’t end in D-III), the interesting stats and much more in the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast. In addition, Keith gives his take on how Albright College chose to handle its national anthem situation.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/16/atn-podcast-180-heavy-lightning-light-thunder/feed/01:09:16A little bit of rain (OK, a lot of rain), a little lightning, half the usual Thunder and a few unbeaten teams getting their first loss made up a good part of the news in Week 7. This was definitely a common sight, and in the case of the Wheaton-Nort[...]A little bit of rain (OK, a lot of rain), a little lightning, half the usual Thunder and a few unbeaten teams getting their first loss made up a good part of the news in Week 7. This was definitely a common sight, and in the case of the Wheaton-North Central game, it didn't end on Saturday, and it's still not over. We break down the first half of that game, plus the Oshkosh win over Platteville and look at first losses for Alfred, Wabash, Framingham State and UW-La Crosse. That plus more in this week's podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: On the flip sidehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/13/quick-hits-on-flip-side/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/13/quick-hits-on-flip-side/#commentsFri, 13 Oct 2017 06:15:17 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3862We’re on the downhill slope now to Selection Sunday. Six weeks down, and five weeks left, with lots of questions to be answered. We’ll try to answer part of one-fifth of those questions here with our Quick Hits crew.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Dave McHugh, the host of Hoopsville over at D3hoops.com. He typically pays enough attention to football to not pick Calvin, Connecticut College or either Centenary.

— Pat Coleman

What’s the Week 7 game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 3 UW-Oshkosh at No. 9 UW-Platteville. With Wheaton’s struggles taking the luster off the Little Brass Bell clash, no game is even close.

Ryan’s take: No. 3 UW-Oshkosh at No. 9 UW-Platteville. Since 2013, the Pioneers have narrowly missed the postseason more than once. Here’s their 2017 chance.

Adam’s take: Redlands. The Bulldogs defeat the Chapman Panthers. Everyone gets treats for the short trip home

Frank’s take: Trinity (Conn.). The Bantams over the Tufts Jumbos. Chickens may be no match for elephants in nature, but this will be a plucking win for the Bantams.

Dave’s take: Otterbein (vs. Heidelberg). Nothing puts the fear in people than Cardinals playing Princes. This feels like a Medieval times or Dark Ages matchup where royalty and the church clashed.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/13/quick-hits-on-flip-side/feed/4ATN Podcast 179: Big games lead to playoff talkhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/09/atn-big-games-playoff-talk/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/09/atn-big-games-playoff-talk/#commentsMon, 09 Oct 2017 06:33:22 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3859All of a sudden we drop a few big games into the mix, set a couple of Top 25 ballots on fire, and then it’s not too early to talk about strength of schedule, and the playoffs, and how at-large bids might be even more at a premium this year than usual. Pat and Keith talk first about the games that caused all that upheaval, then later dive into a couple of playoff scenarios. Plus, find out who Keith thinks could stick around in the playoff bracket a little longer than normal this November or December.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/09/atn-big-games-playoff-talk/feed/11:11:52All of a sudden we drop a few big games into the mix, set a couple of Top 25 ballots on fire, and then it's not too early to talk about strength of schedule, and the playoffs, and how at-large bids might be even more at a premium this year than usua[...]All of a sudden we drop a few big games into the mix, set a couple of Top 25 ballots on fire, and then it's not too early to talk about strength of schedule, and the playoffs, and how at-large bids might be even more at a premium this year than usual. Pat and Keith talk first about the games that caused all that upheaval, then later dive into a couple of playoff scenarios. Plus, find out who Keith thinks could stick around in the playoff bracket a little longer than normal this November or December.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: For Dukehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/06/quick-hits-for-duke/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/06/quick-hits-for-duke/#respondFri, 06 Oct 2017 15:20:51 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3849While we’re thinking with heavy hearts about the late Mike Donnelly and the Muhlenberg football program, we also have attention to give to the full slate of Week 6 games, including one particular game taking place in Abilene, Texas. Yes, of course we’re talking about the ballyhooed McMurry-Belhaven game. No, wait, the other one. Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Logan Hansen, who you may have seen on Twitter as @LogHanRatings. His computer ratings system ranks D-III teams and predicts outcomes of games. And this week there are some games.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/06/quick-hits-for-duke/feed/0ATN Podcast: The end of one purple erahttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/02/atn-podcast-the-end-of-one-purple-era/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/02/atn-podcast-the-end-of-one-purple-era/#commentsMon, 02 Oct 2017 07:40:57 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3845Once upon a time, this patient got up off the table, but now Pat or Keith (hint, not both) is ready to call an end to the UW-Whitewater dynasty. See, yes UWW has lost three games before in a season during this run, but not three of the first four. And that may be the difference-maker, because for the Warhawks to even get to 7-3 is a challenge, both agree.

In addition to that big story, there’s a big game out west to talk about, an unexpected finish in a battle of unbeatens and an even more unexpected finish that knocked Wheaton from the ranks of the unbeaten. Plus two schools who didn’t have to wait to get their second win after long losing streaks, and two schools who are waiting two extra days to get their game in.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/10/02/atn-podcast-the-end-of-one-purple-era/feed/11:04:07Once upon a time, this patient got up off the table, but now Pat or Keith (hint, not both) is ready to call an end to the UW-Whitewater dynasty. See, yes UWW has lost three games before in a season during this run, but not three of the first four. A[...]Once upon a time, this patient got up off the table, but now Pat or Keith (hint, not both) is ready to call an end to the UW-Whitewater dynasty. See, yes UWW has lost three games before in a season during this run, but not three of the first four. And that may be the difference-maker, because for the Warhawks to even get to 7-3 is a challenge, both agree. Plus more top stories.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Picking a number to beathttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/29/quick-hits-number-to-beat/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/29/quick-hits-number-to-beat/#respondFri, 29 Sep 2017 14:13:38 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3839There are three games between ranked teams this week, and a fourth which could have been (stares at Whitewater’s goal-line stats), But there are also other battles between unbeatens, and games worthy staying up late for, and that’s what Quick Hits is looking at this week.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Gene Schatz, a Division III football fan whose son played quarterback at Wesley a few years back. Gene has continued to follow Division III very closely and still travels to see D-III games. Take note, D-III parents. You don’t have to leave when your player graduates.

— Pat Coleman (photo by d3photography.com)

What’s the Week 5 game of the week?

Keith’s take: UW-Whitewater at No. 3 UW-Oshkosh. By a hair over Whitworth at Linfield.

Ryan’s take: UW-Whitewater at No. 3 UW-Oshkosh. Preseason, this was a no-brainer. Even now, still a good one as UW-W vies to stay in the playoff hunt.

Pat’s take: No. 14 Whitworth at No. 8 Linfield. Also like the Wisconsin game but now have questions about UWO thanks to JCU’s first four weeks.

Adam’s take: No. 14 Whitworth at No. 8 Linfield. The Pirates can shake up the NWC, for one year at least.

Frank’s take: No. 19 Illinois Wesleyan at No. 5 Wheaton. Thunder can use field to escape bad news, but losing five players never helps midway through.

Gene’s take: No. 14 Whitworth at No. 8 Linfield. Interested to see if Whitworth can finally get past the NWC king who lost plenty from last year’s team.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 13 Johns Hopkins. Ursinus has scored 35 points in each of its four wins.

Ryan’s take: No. 20 Alfred. With a lot left to prove, they’re not even on my ballot yet.

Pat’s take: No. 15 Wittenberg. This is a team which is in a significantly different place on my Top 25 ballot than 15.

Adam’s take: No. 15 Wittenberg. The Tigers will have their hands full with Denison’s prolific offense led by QB Canaan Gebele.

Frank’s take: No. 20 Alfred. Alfred has seemed leg-weary at times, while Buffalo State seems to be improving a little each week.

Gene’s take: No. 12 UW-Platteville. Stout is coming off of the victory over St. Thomas and 2 weeks prep could make for a tough game for Platteville.

Who has a letdown after a big game last week?

Keith’s take: Wilmington. After an overtime win vs. Capital, winning at John Carroll would be a stunner.

Ryan’s take: Muhlenberg. Opponent F&M has been hot this year, though this should be a close one.

Pat’s take: Luther. A win at home is one thing, but on the road at a rejuvenated program in BVU is something else.

Adam’s take: East Texas Baptist. The Tigers hung 79 last week, but will be lucky to score half that against HSU. Not discounting ETBU’s chances, though.

Frank’s take: Christopher Newport. CNU had decent bounce-back game at Montclair, but Rowan’s defense could derail their momentum.

Gene’s take: Buffalo State, coming off a big win over RPI after trailing at the half, heads to Alfred to take on the Saxons and remain at the top of the E8.

Which game should people be watching at the end of the night?

Keith’s take: Redlands at Occidental. In support of the fact there’s a game to watch.

How many NCAC teams will remain unbeaten, and which ones will they be?

Keith’s take: Three. DePauw, Wabash, Denison.

Ryan’s take: Three: DePauw, Bash and Witt.

Pat’s take: Three. DePauw, Wabash, Denison.

Adam’s take: Three. Wabash, DePauw, and Denison.

Frank’s take: Three. DePauw, Wabash, Wittenberg.

Gene’s take: Three. Wabash, DePauw, and Wittenberg.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/29/quick-hits-number-to-beat/feed/0ATN Podcast 177: Covering the rest of a newsy weekhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/26/atn-podcast-177-newsy-week/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/26/atn-podcast-177-newsy-week/#respondTue, 26 Sep 2017 04:20:33 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3832Aside from “the Target Field game” there were another 99 games played on Saturday, and on top of that, there was all sorts of other news in the past week to cover. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan talk about the situation at Wheaton, the mourning at Wooster, and the hope that Occidental will play Saturday before ever getting to the Heidelberg-John Carroll game or any of the other events from Saturday that took a back seat to the big spectacle.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/26/atn-podcast-177-newsy-week/feed/00:54:43Aside from "the Target Field game" there were another 99 games played on Saturday, and on top of that, there was all sorts of other news in the past week to cover. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan talk about the situation at Wheaton, the mourning at W[...]Aside from "the Target Field game" there were another 99 games played on Saturday, and on top of that, there was all sorts of other news in the past week to cover. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan talk about the situation at Wheaton, the mourning at Wooster, and the hope that Occidental will play Saturday before ever getting to the Heidelberg-John Carroll game or any of the other events from Saturday that took a back seat to the big spectacle.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast 176: Bonus podcast from Tommie-Johnnie gamehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/24/atn-podcast-176-special-edition-from-tommie-johnnie-game/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/24/atn-podcast-176-special-edition-from-tommie-johnnie-game/#respondSun, 24 Sep 2017 04:46:23 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3827Every year there’s at least one game that is worth an entire podcast on its own, and that’s the Stagg Bowl. Well, the Tommie-Johnnie game didn’t decide the national title, not even the MIAC title, but it was an event worthy of breaking out and talking about on its own.

Pat Coleman and Adam Turer hand out game balls, talk with the coaches, describe the atmosphere and what this means for Division III football. Former SJU beat writer Frank Rajkowski talks about the rivalry and how it’s gotten so big. Plus, one player talks about having his family fly up from Chile for the game.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. There will be a full Week 4 podcast covering the entire week that this week will drop on Tuesday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/24/atn-podcast-176-special-edition-from-tommie-johnnie-game/feed/00:36:46Pat Coleman and Adam Turer hand out game balls for the Tommie-Johnnie game, talk with the coaches, describe the atmosphere and what this means for Division III football. Former SJU beat writer Frank Rajkowski talks about the rivalry and how it's got[...]Pat Coleman and Adam Turer hand out game balls for the Tommie-Johnnie game, talk with the coaches, describe the atmosphere and what this means for Division III football. Former SJU beat writer Frank Rajkowski talks about the rivalry and how it's gotten so big. Plus, one player talks about having his family fly up from Chile for the game. D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: The 35,000-foot viewhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/22/quick-hits-the-35000-foot-view/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/22/quick-hits-the-35000-foot-view/#respondFri, 22 Sep 2017 15:34:48 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3818The biggest show in Division III is coming to a major league baseball stadium. Perhaps you’ve heard. But there are 100 other games on Saturday as well, and if you’re not named Tommie or Johnnie, perhaps you’re wondering if we’ll be paying any attention. Our regular Quick Hits crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is Howard Sinker. In our attempts to find a neutral Minnesotan to talk about this week, we found Howard, Minneapolis Star Tribune digital sports editor, Minnesota Public Radio sports commentator and senior instructor of Media and Cultural Studies at Macalester College.

— Pat Coleman

What’s the best game this week that hasn’t sold 30,000 tickets?

Keith’s take: Centre at Berry. Preseason, I’d have circled Stevenson-DelVal, but this SAA clash of styles takes the sliver of spotlight left.

Ryan’s take: Stevenson at No. 12 Delaware Valley. Can’t remember the last year the MAC was clear cut. This will give some clarity.

Pat’s take: No. 5 North Central at Millikin. This is a game that is usually a cakewalk but Millikin is on the upswing. It’s under the radar this week.

Adam’s take: Stevenson at Delaware Valley. The Mustangs have a chance to prove that they’ve gotten right by upsetting the No. 12 Aggies.

Frank’s take: Utica at No. 19 Brockport. Utica loves to play the spoiler, and their defense may be able to slow down Germinerio and Morris somewhat..

Howard’s take: Monmouth at Macalester. Battle of Scots in St. Paul features two MWC contenders; Mac opened with ‘hardware game’ victories vs. Carleton and Hamline.

Official attendance in the Tommie-Johnnie game? (Price is Right rules apply)

Keith’s take: 33,316, clearly a sign from God.

Ryan’s take: 31,157.

Pat’s take: 37,535. Tell me that’s one above anyone else’s pick.

Adam’s take: 33,069. Nice.

Frank’s take: 36,106. It’s No 10 vs. No. 6. So, there had to be at least one of each in my number.

Howard’s take: 34,567.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

How many hazing incidents do we need to hear about on college campuses before people finally figure it out? Enough is enough.

The latest Division III instance comes from Wheaton. It was more than a hazing incident. It was an assault that left two individuals on a baseball field in the middle of the night and one of those victims badly injured after emotional and physical abuse, according to charging documents.

How in the world are we talking about cases where students are allegedly bound by duct tape, a pillow case put over their head, beaten, sodomy attempted, and abused in the spirit of team bonding? How does any “teammate” think this is okay to do to their own? Would they even consider doing this to a student that has nothing to do with the team? The answer to that last question I am sure would be no, so how does the moral or ethical line get crossed so easily? How have we gotten the point of this level of abuse being called “team bonding?”

I’ll be open with you: I was hazed quite a bit in my adolescence and even in college. I did not enjoy the embarrassing situations I, or others, were put in. I hated it. I dreaded it. Part of what fed the hate of it all was I had been bullied, harshly at times, since I was 11. Hazing felt like bullying, just under a different name.

I refused when I could and was demoralized when other teammates, even best of friends, refused to step up and put an end to it even when they knew I was uncomfortable. I found some individuals seemed to almost have a blood-lust when it came to hazing. They had a zeal for the entire thing. It was a chance to embarrass someone else, even worse a teammate, for one reason: their own personal enjoyment. Nothing about it was about team bonding.

Over the years laws have actually been written to end hazing, though the NCAA (and its members) have stopped short of making it illegal in the organization. Unfortunately, it seems hazing has actually gotten worse. For as much as I hated anything related to hazing when I was in college, I don’t remember anything worse than shaving one’s head, drinking far too much, wearing embarrassing outfits (including cross dressing), and other embarrassments. Physical abuse? Hitting, sodomizing, stripping one naked? Who thinks this is okay to do to another for any reason?

The Wheaton football case, while disgusting, is not rare. It is happening on college campuses, across all divisions and affiliations every year. It isn’t being reported and colleges seem to be brushing it under the carpet.

What disturbs me even more than the abuse under the guise of hazing is, how were the suspects still on campus, let alone on the team? The college states they “took swift action to initiate a thorough investigation,” after the incident took place 18 months ago (and the victim was removed, by his father, from the campus).

At Wheaton, each student must sign an anti-hazing policy when they join a team or even an organization. By my count, these suspects broke five of the eight bullet points in the policy. They also seemed to ignore this section:

“The College defines hazing as any action or activity that recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of a person, or that violates the dignity of another person.”

When students sign that policy, they are agreeing to not engage in hazing and will ensure a hazing-free environment. However, the college also spells out the punishment(s):

“Wheaton College has a zero tolerance policy regarding hazing … there are severe penalties for all parties involved in hazing (including suspension/expulsion from the team or school and cancellation of the season).”

In a statement from Wheaton per the incident, they say the investigation resulted “in a range of corrective actions” and they are “unable to share details on these disciplinary measures” because of federal laws prohibiting them.

They claim they can’t discuss it (more on that in a moment), but according to the Chicago Tribune “several players” were “punished” with 50 hours of community service and an eight-page essay assignment about their behavior. If you look through participation reports and box scores, there may have been a missed game at the beginning of last season – perhaps a one-game suspension.

So, a student is beaten, abused in many ways, injured, and left half-naked in the middle of a random field and the school deems some community service, a paper, and a game is good enough? That is in no way a punishment that discourages or stops hazing nor abuse.

I’ll be blunt: In my opinion, the students should have been not only cut from the team, but also expelled from campus. Again, if this had not been classified a “hazing” incident and just considered a straight-up assault, do you really think they would still be on the team or on campus? Let’s ask it a different way: if these men weren’t members of a nationally ranked football team, would they still have been at Wheaton?

I understand, fully, that we live in a country and society that presumes innocence until a jury of peers says otherwise. However, that doesn’t mean the college has to wait for charges, a trial, and punishment to be handed out before they act. They have their own rules and code of conduct. Wheaton says the third-party investigation discovered conduct that was “entirely unacceptable and inconsistent with the values we share as human beings.” They also said it was unacceptable as “members of an academic community that espouses to live according to our Community Covenant.” Yet, Wheaton allowed the students to remain on campus and members of the football team.

The college says they are “profoundly saddened that any member of our community could be mistreated in any way.” Then get serious about stopping hazing. Send a message that makes sure students understand hazing will not be tolerated so that another member of the community will not be mistreated. Wheaton has already missed this particular opportunity to hold up their end of the anti-hazing policy.

There is no room for this kind of behavior in our society. I don’t care if the suspects in question are All-Americans. In fact, for that very reason, these individuals should be held to an even higher standard. They literally represent the college by not only wearing a uniform that says “Wheaton” on the front, but also through awards and distinctions.

When it comes to hazing, a lot of coaches, admins, and colleges seem to turn a blind eye. As long as it doesn’t go too far, they don’t stop it despite state and federal laws and college policies prohibiting it. The more they look away, the worse the hazing gets and suddenly it’s physical, mental, sexual abuse along with emotional torture and more. It all could have been stopped by simply sticking to the policy. No hazing.

Hazing needs to end, period. No more excuses. No more allowances. End it now. There is absolutely no benefit to be embarrassed and humiliated, let alone injured, at the hand of those who are supposedly your teammates. But also end it because it is abuse and assault. There are many ways to bond as a team without the need to haze. Just take a look at this website from the Positive Coaching Alliance. Or visit the NCAA’s anti-hazing efforts.

Also, college administrations have to step dealing with these types of issues with kid gloves. Expulsion, suspensions, and even tough discipline of the entire team should be the first course of action – not the last and certainly not after the carpet has been pulled back and we see what is underneath.

Wheaton has said nothing until after the charges were leveled on the five players. Nothing in the 18 months since the incident took place. If they acted like it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen, right?

Bravo to Bucknell and shame on Wheaton.

Dave McHugh is the host of Hoopsville on D3hoops.com and handles video production for D3sports.com sites.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/19/hazing-enough-is-enough/feed/0ATN Podcast 175: Defenses keep showing uphttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/18/atn-podcast-175-defenses-keep-showing-up/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/18/atn-podcast-175-defenses-keep-showing-up/#respondMon, 18 Sep 2017 04:40:51 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3809Offensive numbers catch the eye, whether it’s 98 points or this week’s 79 or 332 receiving yards and six touchdowns. But Keith has this thing about defense also being part of the game, and that’s hard to argue, as long as we still play 11 on a side. In this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan take a look at some of the places where defense shows up, expectedly or not so much.

Pat and Keith run through all the top news, the hidden highlights, the risers and sliders, the quick hits and quick misses and more from the week in Division III football. That, plus the game(s) which weren’t played, and what that means for the programs affected.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. During the season, it hits your feed weekly on Monday morning. This week, we thank Fanraise for sponsoring our podcast.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/18/atn-podcast-175-defenses-keep-showing-up/feed/01:05:12Offensive numbers catch the eye, whether it's 98 points or this week's 79 or 332 receiving yards and six touchdowns. But Keith has this thing about defense also being part of the game, and that's hard to argue, as long as we still play 11 on a side.[...]Offensive numbers catch the eye, whether it's 98 points or this week's 79 or 332 receiving yards and six touchdowns. But Keith has this thing about defense also being part of the game, and that's hard to argue, as long as we still play 11 on a side. In this week's D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan take a look at some of the places where defense shows up, expectedly or not so much.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Name this rivalryhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/15/quick-hits-name-rivalry/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/15/quick-hits-name-rivalry/#respondFri, 15 Sep 2017 06:11:23 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3795We all know what the big game is this week and you don’t need a poll on social media to tell you. But there are 110…109… make that 108 other games this week, at least as of Friday at midnight, and even though No. 1 is playing No. 6, some of those other games might be worth looking at. That’s what our crew does in Quick Hits.

Frank’s take: Catholic vs. Randolph-Macon. The Around the Nation Trophy-cast.

Kevin’s take: Mount St. Joseph vs. Bluffton. The Bridge Bowl 2: there ARE bridges along I-75 in Ohio. They could use the original ceramic bowl, currently collecting dust in Crestview Hills.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/15/quick-hits-name-rivalry/feed/0ATN Podcast 174: Evaluating the surprise winnershttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/11/atn-podcast-174-evaluating-the-surprise-winners/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/11/atn-podcast-174-evaluating-the-surprise-winners/#respondMon, 11 Sep 2017 07:03:04 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3791We certainly spent some time talking about teams that have lost unexpectedly through the first two weeks: UW-Whitewater, St. Thomas, UW-Whitewater again, Thomas More to name a few. But in this week’s D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan turn their attention to the teams that won those surprise games, where they began the season, what we should have expected and how that expectation changes.

Pat and Keith run through all the top news, the hidden highlights, the risers and sliders, the quick hits and quick misses and more from the week in Division III football. Plus, Luke Ravenstahl is no longer mayor of Pittsburgh and Millikin last started 2-0 in 2012. If you listen to this week’s podcast, you’ll understand.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. During the season, it hits your feed weekly on Monday morning. This week, we thank Fanraise for sponsoring our podcast.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/11/atn-podcast-174-evaluating-the-surprise-winners/feed/01:05:59We certainly spent some time talking about teams that have lost unexpectedly through the first two weeks: UW-Whitewater, St. Thomas, UW-Whitewater again, Thomas More to name a few. But in this week's D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast, Pat Col[...]We certainly spent some time talking about teams that have lost unexpectedly through the first two weeks: UW-Whitewater, St. Thomas, UW-Whitewater again, Thomas More to name a few. But in this week's D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan turn their attention to the teams that won those surprise games, where they began the season, what we should have expected and how that expectation changes.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits Week 2: Some teams just getting startedhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/08/quick-hits-week-2-some-teams-just-getting-started/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/08/quick-hits-week-2-some-teams-just-getting-started/#respondFri, 08 Sep 2017 13:00:44 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3780On our podcast, Keith previewed a Week 2 which might not have as much star power as Week 1, but we still have some key non-conference games, such as Bethel facing Carthage and Cortland meeting Framingham State. Plus, Wabash guys take shots at DePauw and plenty of more matchups are highlighted below in this week’s Quick Hits.

Greg’s take: McMurry (121) over Southwestern (113). Not exactly a warm welcome to the ASC for the Pirates.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/08/quick-hits-week-2-some-teams-just-getting-started/feed/0ATN Podcast 173: What’s wrong with big scores?http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/04/atn-podcast-173-whats-wrong-with-big-scores/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/04/atn-podcast-173-whats-wrong-with-big-scores/#respondMon, 04 Sep 2017 07:09:46 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3776Lots of cool and interesting things happened in the opening weekend of Division III football. Of course, many of them were overshadowed by the 98-0 win by St. John’s over St. Scholastica. Nobody here at D3football.com is suggesting someone ran up the score, though. Keith McMillan and Pat Coleman have a different thought in mind.

Pat and Keith run through all the top news, the hidden highlights, the risers and sliders, the quick hits and quick misses and more from the week in Division III football. Plus, our first podcast was 10 years ago this very day, and Pat and Keith talk about that and have a few clips, both highlights and outtakes.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. During the season, it hits your feed weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/09/04/atn-podcast-173-whats-wrong-with-big-scores/feed/00:57:36Lots of cool and interesting things happened in the opening weekend of Division III football. Of course, many of them were overshadowed by the 98-0 win by St. John's over St. Scholastica. Nobody here at D3football.com is suggesting someone ran up th[...]Lots of cool and interesting things happened in the opening weekend of Division III football. Of course, many of them were overshadowed by the 98-0 win by St. John's over St. Scholastica. Nobody here at D3football.com is suggesting someone ran up the score, though. Keith McMillan and Pat Coleman have a different thought in mind. Plus, it's the podcast's 10th anniversary, and there are clips, including outtakes!GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits returns: Week 1http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/08/31/quick-hits-returns-week-1/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/08/31/quick-hits-returns-week-1/#respondThu, 31 Aug 2017 19:49:45 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3765Quick Hits is back for the 2017 season, continuing the format of two six-packs — a half-dozen panelists and a half-dozen questions. (Or, if you’re already in midseason tailgating form, you can think of it as six six-packs.) Predictions, as always, should be taken in the manner in which they are intended: for your entertainment, and to show one possibility of what could happen. Want to play along? Comments welcome at the bottom of the page. Comments that are posted before kickoff are always given more credit than 20-20 hindsight comments.

Our regular crew is Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer and Frank Rossi. Our sixth spot goes to a guest each week, and this week’s is longtime CNU follower David DiPersio, whom you can find on our message board as CNU85.

— Pat Coleman
Photo by Steve Frommell, d3photography.com

Which Week 1 game is the game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. I have to stick with my Kickoff pick.

Ryan’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. It’s not just about the semifinal rematch, but it’s also about clearing the air regarding all the voids left by graduation.

Pat’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. Not even close. Wish it were closer for me to get to, though.

Adam’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Last year the Aggies pulled off the upset. But the Wolverines rallied to earn a playoff berth while Del Val was left on the bubble.

Frank’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Based on 2017 expectations, it has to be.

David’s take: No. 11 Wesley at No. 20 Delaware Valley. Two top 25 teams who also have overlapping recruiting areas. This is quickly becoming a rivalry!

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. In four games, a top-25 loss wouldn’t be an upset. I’ll go SJF, at W&J. Also watch No. 14 Hobart and No. 24 WNE.

Ryan’s take: No. 24 Western New England. I do feel pretty good about what the Golden Bears bring to the field, but Springfield, with 17 starters back, will push the game till the end.

Pat’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. I don’t buy the 5-5 finish predicted in Kickoff but still think SJF should be lower than 23.

Adam’s take: No. 19 Thomas More. A young defense going up against a very motivated and experienced offense. Franklin QB Chase Burton should have a big day.

Frank’s take: No. 21 Alfred. They’re playing at Ithaca, which is under a new staff.

David’s take: No. 23 St. John Fisher. W&J will move into the Top 25 after Week 1, where they will remain for the season.

Which matchup seems most unusual?

Ryan’s take: Southwestern at Denison. More than 1,200 miles is a long way to go for two teams that aren’t traditional powerhouses.

Pat’s take: Augustana at Cortland. Who would have seen this one coming? That should be interesting.

Adam’s take: Southwestern at Denison. This Texas-Ohio matchup pits programs located near both of the future Stagg Bowl sites.

Frank’s take: Union at Husson. It’s a 6-1/2 hour road trip to face a team with limited upside and limited alumni exposure.

David’s take: No. 4 UW-Oshkosh at No. 8 John Carroll. This matchup makes the season feel as if it’s November! A 500-plus mile trip between two of the nation’s top teams. This has a playoff feel.

Whose head coaching debut are you most interested in?

Keith’s take: Rick Finotti, John Carroll.

Ryan’s take: Art Link, Christopher Newport. He’s only the second coach the team has ever had, and his predecessor did a mighty fine job. There’s lots to live up to.

Pat’s take: Casey Goff, TCNJ. I’m just quite intrigued by how late he was hired and in what poor shape the program was in.

Adam’s take: Bryan Moore, Wilmington. The Quaker Bowl is back, and Wilmington and Earlham are desperate for a win. Wilmington’s last win came in the 2015 opener; Earlham is winless since 2013.

Frank’s take: Dan Swanstrom, Ithaca. It’ll be interesting to see the change in style from Mike Welch’s long tenure.

David’s take: Art Link, Christopher Newport. Last year’s No. 11 defense has many returning starters as does the offense. Even though Link is a defensive guy, I expect we will see more changes on the other side of the ball.

Which conference will need its Kickoff ranking re-evaluated?

Keith’s take: The PAC.

Ryan’s take: The HCAC. I could see them dropping down a couple spots — even from their No. 22 ranking — after a rough opening day.

Pat’s take: The ASC. This was a tough league to figure out because of the two new teams. Most of the non-conference play will be in after this week.

Adam’s take: The PAC. It’s not just my upset pick. W&J and Westminster (Pa.) both host ranked opponents. Home losses by three of the top teams in the league would be a bad look for the PAC.

Frank’s take: The NWC. With uncertainty at Linfield without Riddle at QB, other NWC teams need to win early out of conference games to justify the conference’s ranking.

David’s take: The LL. So many non-conference games. Depending how the league fares in these games will determine if the No. 9 ranking is a good reflection of on-field performance.

Who is going to have a long trip home?

Keith’s take: Rhodes, returning from Willamette.

Ryan’s take: No. 18 Stevenson. Despite coming into the season feeling high, this opener against cross-state Frostburg will be tough to handle.

Pat’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. Mount Union, at home, taking the field for the first time after losing two of its last five? Yeah.

Adam’s take: Rhodes. Over 2,000 miles for an SAA-NWC showdown at Willamette, the Lynx will have the rare Week 1 flight home if they lose.

David’s take: N.C. Wesleyan. This matchup confuses me. NCW hasn’t won more than five games in a season this decade. The Mount has only lost six total. I’m not sure what this game will reveal to anyone.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the Quick Hits that were prescient, and the Quick Misses that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/08/31/quick-hits-returns-week-1/feed/0ATN Podcast 172: Getting ready to starthttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/08/28/atn-podcast-172-getting-ready-to-start/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/08/28/atn-podcast-172-getting-ready-to-start/#respondMon, 28 Aug 2017 04:01:35 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3760The offseason is officially over and it’s game week for Week 1. With that in mind, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan are ready to drop a new podcast on you.

It’s been a busy August around D3football.com, with Pat and Keith spearheading all the coverage in Kickoff 2017 and Pat driving a thousand-plus miles to talk to visit six Division III football practices. Pat and Keith discuss the coverage, predictions for 2017 and more to get you ready for Week 1. Meanwhile they also talk about what’s coming next for the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. During the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/08/28/atn-podcast-172-getting-ready-to-start/feed/00:44:27It's been a busy August around D3football.com, with Pat and Keith spearheading all the coverage in Kickoff 2017 and Pat driving a thousand-plus miles to talk to visit six Division III football practices. Pat and Keith discuss the coverage, predictio[...]It's been a busy August around D3football.com, with Pat and Keith spearheading all the coverage in Kickoff 2017 and Pat driving a thousand-plus miles to talk to visit six Division III football practices. Pat and Keith discuss the coverage, predictions for 2017 and more to get you ready for Week 1. Meanwhile they also talk about what's coming next for the D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: Top 25, blue turf, new bowls, how you can helphttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/07/11/atn-podcast-top-25-blue-turf-new-bowls-how-you-can-help/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/07/11/atn-podcast-top-25-blue-turf-new-bowls-how-you-can-help/#respondTue, 11 Jul 2017 05:45:14 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3747Hey, we know, we didn’t have a May podcast. That’s totally because we planned to bring you an extra-long podcast in July. Yes, we have a podcast and a half for you because there’s way too much to talk about. Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan give their take on the D3football.com preseason Top 25, first off.

Also, that blue turf just looks too cool, doesn’t it? Luther College is having that installed this offseason, so we talk with coach Aaron Hafner about that, the team’s option offense and more. King’s coach Jeff Knarr talks about his former boss, Mike Donnelly, who is struggling with leukemia, and Pat and Keith talk about efforts to find the bone marrow match. And East Texas Baptist coach Scott Highsmith talks about the expanded American Southwest Conference, his being the third ETBU coach in three years and more.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops monthly in the offseason, and during the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/07/11/atn-podcast-top-25-blue-turf-new-bowls-how-you-can-help/feed/01:27:21We've got an extra-long podcast for you this month, because we have to talk about the Top 25, the blue turf at Luther, finding the match at Muhlenberg, finding relevancy at King's and getting yet another new coach at East Texas Baptist. Plus, some 3[...]We've got an extra-long podcast for you this month, because we have to talk about the Top 25, the blue turf at Luther, finding the match at Muhlenberg, finding relevancy at King's and getting yet another new coach at East Texas Baptist. Plus, some 36-year-old memorabilia.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: Talking Oshkosh, new conferences and morehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/06/15/atn-podcast-talking-oshkosh-new-conferences-and-more/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/06/15/atn-podcast-talking-oshkosh-new-conferences-and-more/#respondFri, 16 Jun 2017 04:39:58 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3734Psst … it’s possible to have a D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast without Keith McMillan, as long as we have someone from Around the Nation to fill in. So this month, while Keith is unavailable on assignment, Pat Coleman will be joined by current ATN columnist Adam Turer to fill the big shoes.

This month there are plenty of teams shuffling conferences to talk about, plus Adam reveals who will be his preseason No. 1 team and talks about his sleeper teams for 2017. We also talk with UW-Oshkosh running back Dylan Hecker about the way the Titans’ season ended, their interesting offseason and more, plus we check in with Norwich coach Mark Murnyack about the Cadets’ new conference and renewing some old rivalries.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and (usually) Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops monthly in the offseason and during the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/06/15/atn-podcast-talking-oshkosh-new-conferences-and-more/feed/01:13:36This month, Keith McMillan is out on assignment, but we found someone to fill in who's only written about a hundred fewer ATN columns. Pat Coleman and Adam Turer chat with UWO running back Dylan Hecker, Norwich coach Mark Murnyack and give their pre[...]This month, Keith McMillan is out on assignment, but we found someone to fill in who's only written about a hundred fewer ATN columns. Pat Coleman and Adam Turer chat with UWO running back Dylan Hecker, Norwich coach Mark Murnyack and give their preseason No. 1 and sleeper picks for 2017.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: Our new Texas hosts, two-a-days and morehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/04/22/atn-podcast-our-new-texas-hosts-two-a-days-and-more/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/04/22/atn-podcast-our-new-texas-hosts-two-a-days-and-more/#respondSat, 22 Apr 2017 15:52:18 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3728We’ve talked a lot already about the Stagg Bowl leaving Salem, which is big news in Division III circles, and now it’s time to take a look at the first of our new hosts, Shenandoah, Texas. Although the first Stagg Bowl in Woodforest Bank Stadium isn’t for another 20 months, we talked with the championship’s host to get an early idea of what they have planned, and it should be interesting to see how the Houston area supports the Stagg Bowl.

Meanwhile, there’s still a lot of talk and reaction about the elimination of two-a-day practices in college football, and Wash U coach Larry Kindbom, who leads the Division III coaches committee for the AFCA, talks about what has to happen next. Is this the time to resurrect the idea of spring practice in pads? Also, we talk with UW-Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis about his program — he described his reaction to the 2016 season as “pleased, but not satisfied” and it’ll be interesting to hear your take on it as well.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops monthly in the offseason and during the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/04/22/atn-podcast-our-new-texas-hosts-two-a-days-and-more/feed/01:05:40It's time to meet the first of our new Stagg Bowl hosts, as we talk with the person in charge of the Stagg Bowl at Shenandoah, Texas. Plus we talk about what's next for football preseason practice with Washington University-St. Louis coach Larry Kin[...]It's time to meet the first of our new Stagg Bowl hosts, as we talk with the person in charge of the Stagg Bowl at Shenandoah, Texas. Plus we talk about what's next for football preseason practice with Washington University-St. Louis coach Larry Kindbom and get Kevin Bullis' take on the state of the program at UW-Whitewater.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: An end to two-a-days?http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/03/30/atn-podcast-an-end-to-two-a-days/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/03/30/atn-podcast-an-end-to-two-a-days/#respondThu, 30 Mar 2017 22:40:08 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3720One of the big topics of discussion right now in Division III football, and in college football as a whole, is preseason practice time, including what seems to be likely — the end to two-a-day practices in camp. It’s certainly important to coaches, who have already planned their August camp, especially in Division III, where spring ball is not the same as at the other levels.

With us to talk about that and other issues are Muhlenberg coach Mike Donnelly, UW-Whitewater coach Kevin Bullis and Hope coach Peter Stuursma. In addition, Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan discuss the implications of the pending move of Buffalo State to the Liberty League, how that affects the playoff bids and schedules going forward. Plus. who bid to host the Stagg Bowl? We’ll talk about the possibilities.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops monthly in the offseason and during the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/03/30/atn-podcast-an-end-to-two-a-days/feed/01:15:37One of the big topics of discussion right now in Division III, and in college football as a whole, is preseason practice time, including what seems to be likely -- the end to two-a-day practices in camp. It's certainly important to coaches, who have[...]One of the big topics of discussion right now in Division III, and in college football as a whole, is preseason practice time, including what seems to be likely -- the end to two-a-day practices in camp. It's certainly important to coaches, who have already planned their August camp, especially in Division III, where spring ball is not the same as at the other levels. Pat and Keith and guests discuss that and more, including the forthcoming Liberty League shakeup.NCAAD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: Chasing the NFL dreamhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/02/28/atn-podcast-chasing-the-nfl-dream/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/02/28/atn-podcast-chasing-the-nfl-dream/#respondTue, 28 Feb 2017 06:11:44 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3715Members of this past year’s senior class are chasing their dreams of pro football right now, and next year’s senior class has players hoping to do the same. In light of that, the February edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast talks with three Division III alumni who are living that dream, in various stages of their career.

For former UMHB linebacker and D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year Jerrell Freeman, the story of how he got to the NFL is an unusual one, but a path a D-III alum might need to go. Andrew Franks, a kicker for RPI, has a different story to tell because he’s a specialist (and an engineer), while Wesley quarterback Joe Callahan was cut three times last year, and worse yet, spent a long portion of the season with the Cleveland Browns. Listen and share.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops monthly in the offseason and during the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/02/28/atn-podcast-chasing-the-nfl-dream/feed/00:58:50Members of this past year's senior class are chasing their dreams of pro football right now, and next year's senior class has players hoping to do the same. In light of that, the February edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast talks[...]Members of this past year's senior class are chasing their dreams of pro football right now, and next year's senior class has players hoping to do the same. In light of that, the February edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast talks with three Division III alumni who are living that dream, in various stages of their career.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: Welcome to 2017http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/01/30/atn-podcast-welcome-2017/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/01/30/atn-podcast-welcome-2017/#commentsMon, 30 Jan 2017 05:01:07 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3711The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast returns to offseason mode, including discussion of the latest news from Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan as well as a range of interviews from around Division III.

The January podcast features new John Carroll coach Rick Finotti, who was gracious enough to join us on his fifth day of work at JCU, along with Gagliardi Trophy winner Carter Hanson of St. John’s and Nichols coach Dale Olmsted. Finotti talks about returning to the sidelines after being an off-the-field coach at Michigan, while Hanson talks about reaction to his winning the award and Olmsted discusses the Bison’s turnaround from 1-9 to 6-4 this past season.

The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast is a regular conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan and guests covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops monthly in the offseason and during the season, weekly on Monday morning.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2017/01/30/atn-podcast-welcome-2017/feed/11:13:44The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast returns to offseason mode, including discussion of the latest news from Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan as well as interviews with new John Carroll coach Rick Finotti, who was gracious enough to join us on[...]The D3football.com Around the Nation Podcast returns to offseason mode, including discussion of the latest news from Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan as well as interviews with new John Carroll coach Rick Finotti, who was gracious enough to join us on his fifth day of work at JCU, along with Gagliardi Trophy winner Carter Hanson of St. John's and Nichols coach Dale Olmsted.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoATN Podcast: The MVP, players and coach of the yearhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/17/atn-podcast-the-mvp-players-and-coach-of-the-year/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/17/atn-podcast-the-mvp-players-and-coach-of-the-year/#respondSat, 17 Dec 2016 14:54:43 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3706It was a tension-filled battle to decide Stagg Bowl XLIV and a great game to boot Pat and Keith were joined by the rest of the on-air crew from the D3football.com Stagg Bowl XLIV audio broadcast, including Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Kevin Niehus, for this final ATN Podcast of 2016. We discussed the championship game, interviewed UMHB quarterback Blake Jackson live and debated and ultimately determined the D3football.com Players and Coach of the Year.

This week’s podcast was hosted and sponsored by Mac and Bob’s Restaurant in Salem, Va. Whether you’re in Salem for the Stagg Bowl, the Final Four, or any other reason, it’s a great place to stop — it’s been our post-championship hangout for years.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season and monthly in the offseason.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/17/atn-podcast-the-mvp-players-and-coach-of-the-year/feed/01:05:30It was a tension-filled battle to decide Stagg Bowl XLIV and a great game to boot Pat and Keith were joined by the rest of the on-air crew from the D3football.com Stagg Bowl XLIV audio broadcast, including Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Kevin Niehus, f[...]It was a tension-filled battle to decide Stagg Bowl XLIV and a great game to boot Pat and Keith were joined by the rest of the on-air crew from the D3football.com Stagg Bowl XLIV audio broadcast, including Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Kevin Niehus, for this final ATN Podcast of 2016. We discussed the championship game, interviewed UMHB quarterback Blake Jackson live and debated and ultimately determined the D3football.com Players and Coach of the Year.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits predicts Stagg Bowl XLIVhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/15/quick-hits-predicts-stagg-bowl-xliv/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/15/quick-hits-predicts-stagg-bowl-xliv/#commentsFri, 16 Dec 2016 03:20:33 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3697Six Quick Hits were not enough for this week — they never are. We always expand our panel for the Stagg Bowl and this week we’ve done so as well, with guests who cover Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Oshkosh, as well as our own guest analyst, Kevin Niehus, who will break down X’s and O’s for us on our broadcast on Friday.

Pat Coleman, D3football.com publisher and executive editorI’ve spent a good amount of time this season with Mary Hardin-Baylor as my No. 1 team. But for one week, one game, that doesn’t mean I am automatically sticking with the Cru. One thing Keith and I have talked about consistently over the years is the idea of balanced teams succeeding deep into the playoffs and that continues here because as December goes on, the weather gets less and less hospitable to passing teams. And that’s where I think this game turns. There’s some speculation about what the weather here in December does to a team from Texas and while I don’t think the cold temperatures themselves will affect UMHB, I do wonder about the wind, if there is any (and there certainly can be at any moment out of the mountains). But also, I suspect that if the game comes down to one or two plays, I’d rather have UW-Oshkosh’s play-calling than Mary Hardin-Baylor’s. And this game should come down to one or two plays.
UW-Oshkosh 21, Mary Hardin-Baylor 17

Keith McMillan, D3football.com national columnist and managing editor emeritusFourth-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh has run over the No. 9, No. 3 and No. 6 teams in the country on the way to Salem, suggesting that beating No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor is well within its capabilities. But when one examines how the Titans and Crusaders match up, something stands out — UW-Oshkosh is as physical and as formation diverse a team that UMHB has faced. But it can’t match the athletic gifts of the Cru, and that where UMHB has the advantage; the pass rush from Teidrick Smith and other down linemen, the flying around and sure tackling of Baylor Mullins and his counterparts, and the speed on the flanks that T.J. Josey and company bring. Except in Round 2 against Linfield, Mary Hardin-Baylor has looked shaky for at least a portion of each playoff game. But they win when the opponent can no longer score on them; In four playoff games, Mount Union’s 6 points have been the only fourth-quarter points scored by an opposing offense. So the idea that UMHB will take an early lead, then lean on its defense to slug it out with UW-Oshkosh in a Stagg Bowl ugly to all but the most attentive defensive connoisseurs is where I come down on this.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, UW-Oshkosh 17

Adam Turer, D3football.com Around the Nation columnistWe can only be sure of a few things heading into Stagg Bowl XLIV. There will definitely be a first-time national champion crowned. There will almost certainly be turnovers, plural. There will probably be at least one strange play where a fortuitous bounce shifts the game’s momentum. After that, it’s hard to predict. We expected a defensive struggle last year, then Mount Union and St. Thomas combined for 84 points. In fact, despite facing one of the nation’s top defenses, the last four Stagg Bowl champions averaged 43 points in their title game victory. I’m not expecting another defensive struggle like we saw in both semifinals. Mary Hardin-Baylor’s defensive line is going to dictate this game. If that front four can get a push up front, the back seven will be able to sort through the variety of shifts and motions that the Titans will throw at them. I expect a slow first half controlled by the defenses. A big play in the second half, likely from UMHB’s defense or special teams, will open things up. The Cru’s No. 1 fan, 6-year-old Brielle, will be in attendance. Salem Stadium is located on Texas Street. All signs point to a Crusaders victory.Mary Hardin-Baylor 35, UW-Oshkosh 21

Ryan Tipps, D3football.com senior editorThese two teams have both come through long, hard roads to get here, so there’s not an “experience” advantage either way. What I’m looking at most is balance, because it’s with balance that you’re most able to disrupt an opponent’s strategy (on either side of the ball) and get a leg up. The Cru has the edge on balance — a dynamic offense that keeps plays alive and a defense that has bested multiple Top 20 attacks. It’s easy to point to turnovers or special teams play or red-zone defense as deciding factors in a game, but we really don’t know how those elements will shake out. UMHB quarterback Blake Jackson and defensive end Teidrick Smith have anchored their respective sides of the ball and have been consistent throughout the postseason. They deliver balance, and they’ll deliver a win.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, UW-Oshkosh 17

Frank Rossi, D3football.com Stagg Bowl sideline reporterMary Hardin-Baylor became my No. 1 team late in the season based on their consistency after their first big win against Linfield. But since the loss against the Warhawks, UW-Oshkosh has shown a similar consistency against tremendous teams. That makes this pick, despite my rankings, very tough. So, I go to the advantage/disadvantage system to pick a winner…
Weather: Advantage Titans — kickoff temperature should be 28 degrees, very un-Belton-like, but warmer than the JCU game for the Titans.
Experience: Cru — the Cru’s senior class has been in the playoffs every year, including the 2013 semifinals. This is the second playoff experience for the Titans’ senior class.
Specialists: Cru — when you look at the D3football.com All-America Teams later today, you’ll see a lot more UMHB specialists in the mix, and not nearly as many Titans.
Depth: Titans — the Titans made use of more players, spreading out their playing time moreso than UMHB in the playoffs, even in close games.

Using those key pieces, it’s a tie. So, I’m picking an overtime game in which the Titans’ depth and slightly better kicking game gives them the narrow victory.UW-Oshkosh 20, Mary Hardin-Baylor 17 (OT).

Josh Smith, Around the West columnist, D3football.comWhen it comes to championship games, defense is king. That’s what makes this game difficult to predict – both teams are excellent on defense. Both squads have 40+ takeaways this season and have held opponents to less than 15 points per game. So rather than focusing on which team might come up with the big stop, the team that makes the big play should have the advantage. The Cru’s Blake Jackson is dynamic with 34 touchdown passes and over 700 rushing yards. On the other sideline, Brett Kasper, Dylan Hecker and company are well balanced. Mary Hardin-Baylor has averaged 32.25 points per game in the postseason while the Titans have scored an average of 31 points during their playoff run. So the offenses stack up evenly too. That leaves special teams as the difference. On the season, the Cru has six special teams touchdowns to Oshkosh’s two. If a special teams play sways the Stagg Bowl outcome, Mary Hardin-Baylor gets the edge.Mary Hardin-Baylor 24, UW-Oshkosh 17

Eric Drennan, sports editor, Temple Daily TelegramWith its somewhat unconventional scheme, there’s no doubt the UW-Oshkosh defense has a chance to cause problems for UMHB. Of the Titans’ 26 interceptions this season, 12 have come in the four playoff games as opposing quarterbacks struggled to read the coverages. Having a large offensive line and a backfield duo (Dylan Hecker and Devon Linzenmeyer) that has totaled almost 2,000 yards rushing certainly don’t hurt UW-Oshkosh’s chances either. But if both teams work out the jitters and settle in quickly, the more talented squad should prevail and UMHB might be one of the most athletic teams in the country. With their speed in all three phases (14 touchdowns from their defense and special teams), the Crusaders are tough to contain through all four quarters. Even on days when its offense isn’t clicking on all cylinders, UMHB can ride Teidrick Smith, Baylor Mullins and the rest of its defense to victory.Mary Hardin-Baylor 28, UW-Oshkosh 10

Austin Walther, Oshkosh Advance-Titan reporter (and D3football.com Kickoff contributor)The Crusaders currently have the second highest scoring offense in the country and that has showed throughout their tournament run. MHB hung 50 in the opening round against Redlands, 27 against Linfield and 38 vs. Wheaton in the quarterfinals. The Titans defense has really come on in the previous two weeks. The Titans have forced 12 turnovers in the playoffs, including eight against St. Thomas. The quarterfinal against the Tommies was supposed to be a defensive battle, but there were a lot of points scored despite the turnovers and the hard fought game finally came in the semifinals. The Crusaders are led by the speed and running game, as Markeith Miller has rushed for almost 1,500 yards this season and quarterback Blake Jackson has almost 800, with both players combining for 30 touchdowns. MHB also has an aerial attack with Jackson, passing over 3000 yards and T.J. Josey with just over 1,000 yards receiving. The Titans, on the other hand, have a great balanced attack on the ground. Dylan Hecker is the pounding running back who has gone over 1100 yards and scored 16 touchdowns this year while Devon Linzenmeyer is the guy who can get to the edge. What makes Brett Kasper good in this offense is that he isn’t expected to make all of the plays because of the ground game. The Crusaders gave up the yardage on the ground to the Purple Raiders and forced three interceptions. I think if Oshkosh has that kind of success on the ground, Kasper doesn’t make the mistakes which favors the Titans. Jackson is fast and the Crusaders have talent on offense, but the Titans’ defense is playing at a different level right now, and they have proven to be able to keep up with a high scoring and low scoring game.UW-Oshkosh 17, Mary Hardin-Baylor 14

Kevin Niehus, Division III football analyst and former Thomas More quarterbackWell, here we are with a fresh-feeling Stagg Bowl. These teams are not from Alliance or Whitewater, though UW-Oshkosh will seem familiar because they use the same mold as the folks two hours south of them. Oshkosh brings that familiar pound the rock philosophy behind a physical offensive line, though with a twist; the multiple formations with Gus Malzahn-inspired Orbit and Jet motions. Oshkosh is here because they run the ball well and stop the run. Meanwhile, the freakish athletes for MHB have made that defense elite while giving the offense an explosive play flavor to go along with the strong running game. Oshkosh must get great DB play like last week because Blake Jackson and his wide receiver corps are a big play waiting to happen. I like the discipline Oshkosh has played with on defense and the fact they’re battle-tested within the WIAC. These will be two keys to an Oshkosh win, with a late turnover sealing a classic defensive ballgame our Division hasn’t seen since 2011.UW-Oshkosh 16, Mary Hardin-Baylor 13

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below, or tweet at us. Download the season’s final Around the Nation podcast, recorded live at Mac and Bob’s in Salem, wrapping up the season following the Stagg Bowl and announcing the players and coach of the year.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/15/quick-hits-predicts-stagg-bowl-xliv/feed/4ATN Podcast: Breaking down the semifinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/12/podcast-breaking-down-semifinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/12/podcast-breaking-down-semifinals/#respondMon, 12 Dec 2016 07:51:36 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3694Our podcast team was truly around the nation this week, as Keith McMillan was in Belton, Texas, and Pat Coleman was in Oshkosh, Wis., for the two national semifinals. What results is an informative breakdown with commentary from players and coaches at both games, along with a quick look at the future for John Carroll and Mount Union and Pat and Keith’s key players to watch on offense and defense for both Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Oshkosh in Friday’s Stagg Bowl.

This week’s podcast is sponsored by the City of Salem, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIV. For more information about the Stagg Bowl or any national championship Salem hosts, visit salemchampionships.com.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/12/podcast-breaking-down-semifinals/feed/00:58:34Our podcast team was truly around the nation this week, as Keith McMillan was in Belton, Texas, and Pat Coleman was in Oshkosh, Wis., for the two national semifinals. What results is an informative breakdown with commentary from players and coaches [...]Our podcast team was truly around the nation this week, as Keith McMillan was in Belton, Texas, and Pat Coleman was in Oshkosh, Wis., for the two national semifinals. What results is an informative breakdown with commentary from players and coaches at both games, along with a quick look at the future for John Carroll and Mount Union and Pat and Keith's key players to watch on offense and defense for both Mary Hardin-Baylor and UW-Oshkosh in Friday's Stagg Bowl.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoThe Quick Hits take on the semifinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/09/the-quick-hits-take-on-the-semifinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/09/the-quick-hits-take-on-the-semifinals/#commentsFri, 09 Dec 2016 07:06:21 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3684Well, we’ve spent this past week talking about these games, envisioning what these semifinals look like and now it’s time to get down to the finish and tell you how the games will go. We’ve got a rematch of a season opener and a rematch of the 2004 and 2012 semifinals, and we’re expecting two great games that will be great examples of Division III football to the audience on ESPN3.

Enough with the pleasantries. Here’s our takes:

— Pat Coleman (photos by d3photography.com)

The Quick Hits
playoff crew:

Keith: Normally beating Mount Union, UW-Whitewater and Wesley in a four-week span would mean a team has already won it all. John Carroll still needs two more wins, and standing in its way is an offense more dynamic than any the Blue Streaks have defeated. They’ll tell you themselves how dangerous UW-Oshkosh is, and while Round 2 14 weeks later will be closer, the Titans still score enough to make a Stagg Bowl. UW-Oshkosh 27, John Carroll 16.

Ryan: The first meeting between these two teams feels like a lifetime ago, so we can’t automatically assume the same outcome. The defenses are particularly impressive for both teams, and we’re going to see all three phases of the game getting points on the board. When the clock hits zero, the Stagg Bowl will again have a WIAC rep, as it has so many times in recent seasons. UW-Oshkosh 28, John Carroll 24.

Pat: Over the course of a 14-week season, both teams will have improved, no doubt. But UW-Oshkosh came into the season already close to the finished product, while John Carroll was starting a freshman quarterback, figuring out its defense, oh, and traveling more than 500 miles to get to its opener. I feel that the arc for John Carroll is much higher than it has been for UW-Oshkosh, which was much closer to its ceiling. Now, all of what I said here could be true and UWO could still well be favored. But I also think that John Carroll will win this game and keep the OAC in Salem. John Carroll 33, UW-Oshkosh 29.

Adam: Kudos to UW-Oshkosh for its disruptive defensive showing against St. Thomas, but a team winning the turnover battle 8-0 and only winning the game by three points is concerning. I’m looking forward to a defensive battle with few mistakes from either side. Ro Golphin and the Blue Streaks rushing game will make the difference, keeping the chains moving and leaving Dylan Hecker and Brett Kasper on the Titans sideline. Salem will still host an OAC champion, just not the usual purple one. John Carroll 24, UW-Oshkosh 10.

Frank: With the high temperature forecast for 19 degrees (that’s Fahrenheit, folks) and snow showers, you generally have to give the edge to a team that’s used to going deeper in the playoffs and this type of weather. In their earlier matchup, the Titans started with a 27-0 lead. Asking the Blue Streaks to completely turn that result around is a tough request, even with their improvement on defense. It will be a closer game, but… UW-Oshkosh 20, John Carroll 13.

Josh: I’m guilty of underestimating each of these teams in the quarterfinal round. But both the Titans and Blue Streaks recorded key takeaways to reach the semis. Oshkosh has a turnover margin of plus-23 this season, so if turnovers play a critical role again this weekend, the Titans will likely have the edge. Oshkosh’s big play ability on offense helps too. UW-Oshkosh 35, John Carroll 28.

Keith: Mount Union has done a tremendous job getting the most out of an inexperienced roster, and embracing the role of road underdog. But this is the first time their opponent actually has more talent. Haston Adams, Teidrick Smith and the UMHB defensive front will make running the ball difficult, and this Purple Raiders offense can’t flourish if it can’t. The third matchup between these teams isn’t nearly as epic as the first two. Mary Hardin-Baylor 35, Mount Union 17.

Ryan: Both teams will come close, or surpass, the number of points they’ve given up all season. Each boasts an All-Region Offensive Player of the Year (Cru quarterback Blake Jackson, and Mount rusher Bradley Mitchell), so scoring is what these guys are all about. Still, there are almost too many reasons to list why I had UMHB as No. 1 on my ballot — the Cru is Salem-bound. Mary Hardin-Baylor 44, Mount Union 33.

Pat: It’s been an amazing run for Mount Union, one that this relatively young team can build on and go back to blowing the doors off nine regular-season opponents next year. But I think it ends here. And it’s not because of some hokey BS about being tired from being on the road for four consecutive weeks — it’s because UMHB is damn good, better than Mount Union up front, better at quarterback, better in the secondary, better at receiver. The Cru have certainly had their issues at crucial times in big games in their history, but this game doesn’t come down to one or two plays, in my estimation. Mary Hardin-Baylor 35, Mount Union 20.

Adam: Statistically, this is the most evenly matched contest possible. These teams are nearly identical on paper. The Purple Raiders have proven that their playoff pedigree discounts their opponent’s home field advantage. Both teams excel in all three phases, but the Crusaders have an edge thanks to their aggressive special teams play and dominant D-line. Mary Hardin-Baylor is responsible for the only Stagg Bowl without Mount Union this millennium (2004). The Cru does it again, emphatically. Mary Hardin-Baylor 38, Mount Union 20.

Frank: I was told a long time ago that picking against the Purple Raiders is a fool’s game. Well, regular readers and listeners know that’s never stopped me before… You have a home team with a rock-solid quarterback leading the offense, and a top-caliber defensive end as the helmsman of the defense. The experience and success of the year pay off for the Cru. Mary Hardin-Baylor 52, Mount Union 37.

Josh: The Cru has been my pick to win the Stagg Bowl since the bracket was released, so I won’t waiver now. But Mt. Union’s playoff run can’t be overlooked. If Mary Hardin-Baylor continues to play well up front on offense and defense, it should make things tough for Dom Davis and Bradley Mitchell while offering opportunities for Blake Jackson. I wouldn’t be surprised if a key special teams play factored into the final score. Mary Hardin-Baylor 31, Mount Union 28.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below or tweet at us at @D3Keith, @NewsTipps, @D3football, @adamturer, @FrankRossi and @By_Josh_Smith. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks and the highlights from the semifinal round.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/09/the-quick-hits-take-on-the-semifinals/feed/6Around the Nation Podcast: New faces the reason for excitementhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/05/around-the-nation-podcast-new-faces-the-reason-for-excitement/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/05/around-the-nation-podcast-new-faces-the-reason-for-excitement/#commentsMon, 05 Dec 2016 09:42:48 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3678You’ve been asking for this for years, haven’t you? John Carroll and UW-Oshkosh advanced to the national semifinals, meaning there will be at least one team in the Stagg Bowl for the first time. And Mount Union survived an offensive shootout at Alfred, meaning the defending champs are still alive, with a trip to face the No. 1 team in the offing. Pat and Keith talk through it all, plus preview the semifinal games, in this week’s Around the Nation Podcast.

This week’s podcast is sponsored by the City of Salem, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIV. For more information about the Stagg Bowl or any national championship Salem hosts, visit salemchampionships.com.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/05/around-the-nation-podcast-new-faces-the-reason-for-excitement/feed/31:24:53You've been asking for this for years, haven't you? John Carroll and UW-Oshkosh advanced to the national semifinals, meaning there will be at least one team in the Stagg Bowl for the first time. And Mount Union survived an offensive shootout at Alfr[...]You've been asking for this for years, haven't you? John Carroll and UW-Oshkosh advanced to the national semifinals, meaning there will be at least one team in the Stagg Bowl for the first time. And Mount Union survived an offensive shootout at Alfred, meaning the defending champs are still alive, with a trip to face the No. 1 team in the offing. Pat and Keith talk through it all, plus preview the semifinal games, in this week's Around the Nation Podcast.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits on the quarterfinalshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/02/quick-hits-on-the-quarterfinals/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/02/quick-hits-on-the-quarterfinals/#commentsFri, 02 Dec 2016 10:33:57 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3671Is there enough offense in Anthony Moeglin’s right arm to overcome a stout Whitewater defense? Can Oshkosh manage to put enough points on the board to win at St. Thomas, or, for that matter, can St. Thomas manage to do enough to put away the Titans? Those are the games there’s the most dispute about this weekend, as our Quick Hits crew takes you through each of the four quarterfinals.

— Pat Coleman

Wheaton (Ill.) at Mary Hardin-Baylor

Keith’s take: UMHB 38, Wheaton 24. Two great D-lines cause havoc early, and the Thunder make it interesting before the Cru pull away.

Ryan’s take: UMHB 31, Wheaton 14. It’s very likely that UMHB is the best team in the country, and while Wheaton has been admirable, it’s hard to see them stop the Cru’s dual-threat offense or break through that hard-nosed defense.

Pat’s take: UMHB 38, Wheaton 14. Team speed and defensive pressure just too much for the Thunder to handle without a little lightning.

Adam’s take: UMHB 41, Wheaton 24. The Thunder are certainly peaking at the right time, but the Crusaders have too many weapons in all three phases. A big special teams play or turnover(s) will be too much for Wheaton to overcome.

Josh’s take: UMHB 28, Wheaton 10. The Thunder’s defense was impressive last week vs. North Central. But this UMHB team is a different kind of beast.

Mount Union at Alfred

Keith’s take: Mount Union 35, Alfred 21. The Purple Raiders get the ground game going, and the purple Saxons run out of late-game heroics.

Ryan’s take: Mount Union 45, Alfred 17. Neither team has impressed this postseason, and Alfred, especially, has allowed an ugly amount of points the last two weeks against teams that are far less polished and prominent as The Machine.

Pat’s take: Mount Union 38, Alfred 10.
This ends up being the textbook definition of handily. Mount names its score.

Adam’s take: Mount Union 35, Alfred 23. I guess it’s time for me to stop doubting the Purple Raiders. The Saxons defense has been bending all postseason, and the offense will be facing its toughest test as well.

Frank’s take: Mount Union 33, Alfred 20. Both teams have underwhelmed so far in the playoffs, but Mount Union still retains the edge in this one, having won in less-cardiac form.

UW-Oshkosh at St. Thomas

Keith’s take: St. Thomas 20, UW-Oshkosh 17. The winner of this game could well win the Stagg Bowl; Love the Titans but hard to see the Tommies’ D giving up many points.
.

Ryan’s take: UW-Oshkosh 20, St. Thomas 13. I picked the Titans to win this bracket before the playoffs started, and I still feel good about that. You can’t go into this not expecting it to be a defensive battle with two Top 5 scoring defenses.

Adam’s take: St. Thomas 17, UW-Oshkosh 14. These two teams and programs have a lot of similarities. The team with home field advantage and playoff pedigree gets the slight edge.

Frank’s take: St. Thomas 27, UW-Oshkosh 17. The teams have won by a combined 178-36 score in their four games. Give the edge to the home team, when all else fails.

Josh’s take: St. Thomas 31, UW-Oshkosh 30.This looks like a great game on paper, and on the field. St. Thomas has just enough, but it’s a game D-III fans talk about for several days after.

John Carroll at UW-Whitewater

Keith’s take: UW-Whitewater 21, John Carroll 13. What could be more exciting than 11 defensive linemen rotating in against perennially the best O-line in D-III? Lots of things, but, uh, this could be a classic game.
.

Ryan’s take: John Carroll 21, UW-Whitewater 17. I tossed and turned over this pick, but the recent tests that JCU has embraced and overcome gives them the edge after UW-W’s victories over teams with poor records or from weaker conferences.

Pat’s take: UW-Whitewater 26, John Carroll 13. JCU manages to slow the Whitewater offense, but the Warhawks do even more on defense and the UWW offense gets just enough done to win here.

Adam’s take: John Carroll 21, UW-Whitewater 20. JCU has come a long, long way since the season-opening loss at UW-Oshkosh. As long as Anthony Moeglin protects the ball on offense, the Blue Streaks defense will make enough plays in the red zone to deliver a statement win.

Frank’s take: UW-Whitewater 13, John Carroll 10. John Carroll’s defense was tremendous against Wesley, but their offense may not be able to score against the Warhawks. This may be the closest game of the four.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks that were prescient, and those that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/12/02/quick-hits-on-the-quarterfinals/feed/10Around the Nation Podcast: A day for the defenseshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/28/around-the-nation-podcast-a-day-for-the-defenses/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/28/around-the-nation-podcast-a-day-for-the-defenses/#commentsMon, 28 Nov 2016 07:38:38 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3668When you’re down to just 16 teams and eight games, we can take the time to go through each of them, and it was a week which made Keith very happy. There was a lot of defense to talk about for this former Division III safety. Defenses came up big in expected places, such as Whitewater, Wis., or University Heights, Ohio, but the other games featured some surprisingly stout defensive performances as well. Pat and Keith talk through it all, plus preview the quarterfinal games, in this week’s Around the Nation Podcast.

This week’s podcast is sponsored by the City of Salem, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIV. For more information about the Stagg Bowl or any national championship Salem hosts, visit salemchampionships.com.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/28/around-the-nation-podcast-a-day-for-the-defenses/feed/30:52:09When you're down to just 16 teams and eight games, we can take the time to go through each of them, and it was a week which made Keith very happy. There was a lot of defense to talk about for this former Division III safety. Defenses came up big in [...]When you're down to just 16 teams and eight games, we can take the time to go through each of them, and it was a week which made Keith very happy. There was a lot of defense to talk about for this former Division III safety. Defenses came up big in expected places, such as Whitewater, Wis., or University Heights, Ohio, but the other games featured some surprisingly stout defensive performances as well.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Our second-round score pickshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/25/quick-hits-second-round-score-picks/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/25/quick-hits-second-round-score-picks/#respondFri, 25 Nov 2016 06:22:15 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3661If the predictions hold, we are in for a great second round of games. The consensus of our group isn’t that any game will be out of hand. Both rematches should be closer than the first meeting, we think. A minority opinion, but still a present one, suggests the defending champion could lose this week, as well as the No. 1 team.

If any of this comes true, well, you saw it here first. And if something happens that isn’t represented here, then it’s a surprise.

Consensus: UW-Whitewater sweeps the table, but with one one-point margin and a four-point margin.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/25/quick-hits-second-round-score-picks/feed/0Around the Nation Podcast: Tense momentshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/20/around-the-nation-podcast-tense-moments/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/20/around-the-nation-podcast-tense-moments/#respondMon, 21 Nov 2016 00:02:09 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3650Whether you were among the excited, with no rooting interest, or among the tense, with your season hanging in the balance, the 3 p.m. hour-plus in the Eastern Time Zone on Saturday was a great time to be a Division III football fan. Three games came down to the final play, and Pat and Keith talk about them all in detail, as well as the other 13 first-round games, in this week’s Around the Nation Podcast.

This week’s podcast is sponsored by the City of Salem, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIV. For more information about the Stagg Bowl or any national championship Salem hosts, visit salemchampionships.com.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/20/around-the-nation-podcast-tense-moments/feed/00:55:50Whether you were among the excited, with no rooting interest, or among the tense, with your season hanging in the balance, the 3 p.m. hour-plus in the Eastern Time Zone on Saturday was a great time to be a Division III football fan. Three games came[...]Whether you were among the excited, with no rooting interest, or among the tense, with your season hanging in the balance, the 3 p.m. hour-plus in the Eastern Time Zone on Saturday was a great time to be a Division III football fan. Three games came down to the final play, and Pat and Keith talk about them all in detail, as well as the other 13 first-round games, in this week's Around the Nation Podcast.D3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Predicting first-round playoff scoreshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/18/quick-hits-predicting-first-round-playoff-scores/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/18/quick-hits-predicting-first-round-playoff-scores/#respondFri, 18 Nov 2016 07:07:16 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3635The story goes, one day on a long ride to a playoff game at Thiel (which tells you how long ago this happened), Pat and Keith decided to pass the time by guessing not just the winner of each first-round playoff game, but the score. And there was born the expectations game: Do we expect a close game? A high-scoring game? A blowout? Does everyone agree on who will win? Those are the factors worth looking at.

Keith McMillan, Ryan Tipps, Pat Coleman, Adam Turer, Frank Rossi and Josh Smith each take their guesses at scores for each first-round game.

Consensus: UW-Whitewater, although a four-touchdown range in what UWW might score.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below, or tweet at us at @D3Keith, @NewsTipps and @d3football. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks and the highlights from Round 1.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/18/quick-hits-predicting-first-round-playoff-scores/feed/0ATN Podcast: The bracket reactionhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/14/atn-podcast-the-bracket-reaction/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/14/atn-podcast-the-bracket-reaction/#respondMon, 14 Nov 2016 09:28:44 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3629We’re still feeling really good about this bracket — about the teams selected, about the first-round pairings, about so much of it. We’ll hear from the NCAA committee chair, Jack McKiernan, gets Keith’s view on watching his alma mater clinch an automatic bid and talk about that John Carroll-Mount Union game. Plus, we’ll discuss who got the best and the toughest draws, what the best first-round games are, what (if anything) the committee got wrong and more in this week’s Around the Nation Podcast.

This week’s podcast is sponsored by the City of Salem, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIV. For more information about the Stagg Bowl or any national championship Salem hosts, visit salemchampionships.com.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/14/atn-podcast-the-bracket-reaction/feed/00:58:21We'll hear from the NCAA committee chair, Jack McKiernan, gets Keith's view on watching his alma mater clinch an automatic bid and talk about that John Carroll-Mount Union game. Plus, we'll discuss who got the best and the toughest draws, what the b[...]We'll hear from the NCAA committee chair, Jack McKiernan, gets Keith's view on watching his alma mater clinch an automatic bid and talk about that John Carroll-Mount Union game. Plus, we'll discuss who got the best and the toughest draws, what the best first-round games are, what (if anything) the committee got wrong and more in this week's Around the Nation Podcast. Sponsored by the City of Salem.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: One last week for all the marbleshttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/11/quick-hits-one-last-week-for-all-the-marbles/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/11/quick-hits-one-last-week-for-all-the-marbles/#respondFri, 11 Nov 2016 14:12:42 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3621As this portion of the Quick Hits season draws to a close, we tackle the big rivalry games, the playoff picture and all the rest. Our guest prognosticator is Frank Rajkowski, who covers St. John’s football for the St, Cloud Times.

— Pat Coleman

Which Week 11 game is the game of the week?

Keith’s take: No. 18 St. John Fisher at No. 14 Alfred. There are other big games, but none impact the potential playoff field like whether or not the Cardinals are in Pool C.

Ryan’s take: No. 18 St. John Fisher at No. 14 Alfred. Likely to be much more of a dogfight than the other game between Top 25 teams.

Pat’s take: No. 8 St. John’s at Concordia-Moorhead. This game is frequently given to last-second heroics, and it has playoff implications.

Adam’s take: No. 18 St. John Fisher at No. 14 Alfred. Every team on the Pool C bubble will have an eye on this one.

Frank’s take: No. 16 John Carroll at No. 1 Mount Union. The Purple Raiders haven’t had a real test. This will show us where they’re at.

Frank’s take: I want to say St. John’s at Concordia since a lot is on the line and, you know, I’ll be covering it. But it’s hard to pick against ranked teams playing for a conference title, when top-ranked Mount Union plays host to No. 16 John Carroll.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 8 St. John’s, and to a lesser degree No. 17 Wabash. Each puts its 8-1 record on the line vs. 7-2 foe; Johnnies have lost 3 of 4 to Concordia-Moorhead.

Ryan’s take: No. 25 St. Lawrence. WPI played Hobart close — in fact, the Engineers’ three losses all season were by a total of nine points.

Pat’s take: None. Going with a good old-fashioned slate of chalk. Get it, slate? Chalk?

Adam’s take: No. 8 St. John’s at Concordia-Moorhead. The Cobbers create some more Pool C chaos and stake a claim to one of the six bids.

Frank’s take: No. 21 Case Western Reserve vs. Carnegie Mellon. CMU has been playing consistent ball while Case had a scare last week.

Frank’s take: I guess the Top 25 team with the toughest test is No. 8 St. John’s, which travels to Concordia in a game that both teams have to win if they want to keep their shot at an at-large bid alive.

Who salvages a poor season with a win in the finale?

Keith’s take: Pacific has won six or seven games for three seasons running, but has three losses by four points or fewer this season. The Boxers win at home vs. Puget Sound to get to 4-5.

Ryan’s take: Albion. My, how far the Britons have fallen.

Pat’s take: Williams. I’m going with the Ephs because Amherst is having an uncharacteristically bad year and Williams, while winless, should smell a chance.

Adam’s take: Hampden-Sydney defeats rival Randolph-Macon in The Game, because the ODAC can’t possibly have a clear outright champion two years in a row, can it?

Frank’s take: Wesley. “Poor” is a relative term, and a two-loss season is considered such for Wesley. A win salvages the season with a playoff berth.

Frank’s take: Bethel can salvage a .500 season with a win at Hamline. The Pipers are already assured of finishing .500 for the first time since 1997. A victory would give Hamline its first winning season since 1995.

Which team ranked No. 1 in its region has the closest game in Week 11?

Keith’s take: Mount Union. The Purple Raiders look as dominant as always, especially with a D that’s allowed 42 points in six games, but the Blue Streaks (39 in past six) could be their equal.

Ryan’s take: Alfred, but I guess that goes without saying based on my answer to the first question.

Adam’s take: Alfred is the top team in the East, but plays No. 2 St. John Fisher. It would be a stunner if this isn’t the closest.

Frank’s take: Alfred, vs. St. John Fisher. Their closeness in ranking is fitting as these teams should battle to the finish line.

Frank’s take: Pretty obviously Alfred, which is ranked No. 1 in the East, but faces St. John Fisher, ranked No. 2.

Who goes into the playoffs without momentum?

Keith’s take: I really looked for other options here, but Alfred seems like the likeliest team to both lose and still get into the postseason..

Ryan’s take: John Carroll. Finishing out the season against The Machine takes its toll.

Pat’s take: The winner of the ODAC. The fact that I can’t even easily determine who that will be says it all.

Adam’s take: No. 23 Stevenson may have peaked too soon. The Mustangs enter the playoffs following a loss to 3-6 Wilkes and an uninspiring performance against 3-6 Lycoming.

Frank’s take: Western New England. With a QB named “Victory,” Coast Guard ends the season with a victory as the Golden Bears potentially rest some players.

Frank’s take: Olivet has already wrapped up an automatic bid. But the Comets have given up 115 points over three games. That could continue against Trine (6-3), averaging 35.4 points per game.

Alma mater excluded, pick a winner in a rivalry game.

Keith’s take: Wesleyan (6-1) keeps Trinity Conn. from an unbeaten season and opens the door for Tufts (6-1) to claim NESCAC by beating Middlebury (6-1).

Ryan’s take: Case Western Reserve over Carnegie Mellon. Finishing undefeated, this is a team that WILL be riding high going into the postseason.

Pat’s take: Monmouth. Haven’t lost to Knox in how long? Add one year to the streak.

Adam’s take: No. 17 Wabash could extend its Monon Bell win streak to a record eight in a row. A win could also secure a Pool C berth for the Little Giants. I’m picking the Tigers to play spoiler and snap DePauw’s losing streak.

Frank’s take: RPI, vs. Union. RPI has played very strong football at home vs. Union over the past years, even as the underdog. Their experience at defense helps keep it close enough for a late win.

Frank’s take: Well, I went to St. Cloud State (which closes its season vs. Minnesota-Duluth). But Mount Union-John Carroll is usually a game to watch. I’m not going out on any limb here. But I’ll take the Purple Raiders.

We invite you to add your predictions in the comments below. Download the Around the Nation podcast on Mondays, where Pat and Keith review the picks that were prescient, and those that were terribly off base.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/11/quick-hits-one-last-week-for-all-the-marbles/feed/0ATN Podcast: Playoff picture updatehttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/07/atn-podcast-playoff-picture-update/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/07/atn-podcast-playoff-picture-update/#respondMon, 07 Nov 2016 08:08:36 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3617About half of the automatic bids have been handed out to the Field of 32 teams which will play for the 2016 Division III football championship. But while two of the remaining ones will be battled out head to head this week, and some are cut-and-dried if teams take care of business, there’s still a lot of intrigue and a lot of moving parts. What might the at-large bids look like? Pat and Keith take a quick tour through that and more in this week’s Around the Nation Podcast.

The Around the Nation Podcast is a weekly conversation between Pat Coleman and Keith McMillan covering the wide range of Division III football. It drops on Monday morning weekly throughout the season.

]]>http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/07/atn-podcast-playoff-picture-update/feed/00:56:22About half of the automatic bids have been handed out to the Field of 32 teams which will play for the 2016 Division III football championship. But while two of the remaining ones will be battled out head to head this week, and some are cut-and-drie[...]About half of the automatic bids have been handed out to the Field of 32 teams which will play for the 2016 Division III football championship. But while two of the remaining ones will be battled out head to head this week, and some are cut-and-dried if teams take care of business, there's still a lot of intrigue and a lot of moving parts. What might the at-large bids look like? Pat and Keith take a quick tour through that and more in this week's Around the Nation Podcast.GeneralD3football.com, Pat Coleman and Keith McMilllannonoQuick Hits: Eyes on Texas, New York, Marylandhttp://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/04/quick-hits-eyes-on-texas-new-york/
http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/2016/11/04/quick-hits-eyes-on-texas-new-york/#commentsFri, 04 Nov 2016 10:45:26 +0000http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?p=3604And as the end of the football regular season approaches and a bunch of schools turn their sights on basketball, we figured it was time to bring in a basketball expert to join us on Quick Hits. Hence, Dave McHugh, of Hoopsville and D3hoops.com, stops by to give us hits that resemble quickness. (Possibly edited for extra quickness.) Who will clinch this week? Who can still play their way into the regional rankings? We predict that and more in this week’s Quick Hits.

— Pat Coleman

Which game would you rather be at this weekend?

Keith’s take: No. 21 ETBU at No. 10 HSU is the best game. But I’ve never seen a game at Westminster (Pa.), and their battle with Case should be huge.

Ryan’s take: No. 21 ETBU at No. 10 HSU. A one-loss ASC team should be primed for a Pool C spot, which means this is likely a game to determine who gets to take the field on Nov. 19.

Pat’s take: Hobart at No. 16 St. Lawrence. I’m taking a pretty crazy trip to get there, so what else would I say?

Frank’s take: Hobart at No. 16 St. Lawrence. I cover the Liberty League on “In the HuddLLe” each week. Where else would I be? Plus, Pat Coleman will be there. That’s like the sprinkles on an already great sundae.

Dave’s take: Lycoming at Delaware Valley. While the Warriors are not in the race, they have Del Val this week and Stevenson the next and could change the complexion of the conference. The Aggies have to stay in postseason position.

Which Top 25 team is most likely to get upset?

Keith’s take: No. 18 Salisbury. The Sea Gulls finally beat their Route 13 rival last season, but Wesley is scrapping for its playoff life.

Pat’s take: No. 18 Salisbury. It might be a chic pick by this point, but I’m going to buy into the Wesley resurgence and see if they can’t go down Rte. 13 and get a W.

Adam’s take: Wesley is playing with its back against the wall, needing to upset No. 18 Salisbury on the road. I think the Wolverines pull it off to keep their playoff streak alive, for now.

Frank’s take: No. 16 St. Lawrence. SLU hasn’t faced an air attack like Hobart’s. While I don’t usually favor one-dimensional offenses, SLU’s offense has also been somewhat off since their bye. Close game favors Hobart’s cardiac kids.

Dave’s take: No. 16 St. Lawrence. I decided to look for the best basketball matchup. The teams’ similar outcomes against common opponents intrigues me. I like Hobart finishing on top Saturday and in February, too.

Pick a Chicago-area team to win and a Cleveland-area team to lose.

Keith’s take: Baldwin Wallace has lost its past three by a total of five points, and Heidelberg should send them to another loss. Benedictine, while keeping one eye on Aurora-Lakeland, tops Concordia-Chicago.

Ryan’s take: North Central and Oberlin. NCC will notch an impressive and SOS-boosting win over 6-2 Cathage. Oberlin’s first win of the season will continue to be elusive against DePauw.

Pat’s take: Elmhurst and Oberlin. Elmhurst hosts Millikin, which is having a strong season, but I like the Bluejays at home. Oberlin hosts DePauw and it’s not enough of a trap game for the Tigers to lose.

Adam’s take: Wheaton and Case. Wheaton continues to build its Pool C resume. I have a feeling Westminster (Pa.) is going to resolve a lot of playoff questions by ending Case’s perfect season, sending Indians fans into a deeper spiral.

Frank’s take: North Central and Case Western Reserve. NCC will beat a Carthage team with just two losses (both by 19-14 scores), and Case will lose against Westminster (Pa.), which would potentially open up a Pool C bid.

Dave’s take: Benedictine and Baldwin Wallace. The Cubs already won. Why do we need to pick someone else? Benedictine’s men’s basketball tournament run allowed me to get back to my childhood home of Chicago, and sorry, Baldwin Wallace — Heidelberg wins this.

Frank’s take: 307. Belhaven averages 419.75 yards per game, and UMHB gives up 193.9 yards in the air. I split the difference here.

Dave’s take: 450. A top 5 squad whose pass defense is not the strongest suit against an offense that likes to throw. This is like when basketball teams play Grinnell. I would be surprised if they throw for less than 450 yards.

Pick a team outside the regional rankings who will clinch an automatic bid.

Keith’s take: Husson clinches the ECFC by beating Norwich, and causes a 500-mile radius problem for the playoff field.

Ryan’s take: Redlands, back in the dance after missing the last two seasons.